The confucian analects

The Confucian Analects (1) By James Legge Book IX. Tsze Han, 9.4 There are four things from which the Master was entirely free. He had no foregone conclusions, no arbitrary predeterminations, no obstinacy, and no egoism. Book XII. Yen Yuan, 12.16 The Master said, “The superior man seeks to perfect the admirable qualities of men, and does not seek to perfect their bad qualities. The mean man does the opposite of this.” Book XV. Wei Ling Kung, 15.19 The Master said, “The superior man is distressed by his want of ability. He is not distressed by men’s not knowing him.” Book XIX. Tsze-chang, 19.21 Tsze-kung said, “The faults of the superior man are like the eclipses of the sun and the moon. He has his faults, and all men see them; he changes again, and all men look up to him.” Book XIII. Tsze-lu, 13.6 The Master said, “When a prince’s personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without the issuing of orders. If his personal conduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed.”