Chapter 2: 为政第二 — Lunyu — Taiyi Pavilion Chapter 2: 为政第二
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Confucius said: “One who governs through virtue is like the North Star—it remains in its place, and all the other stars revolve around it.”
Confucius said: “The three hundred poems in the Book of Songs can be summed up in one phrase: ‘Think no evil.’”
Confucius said: “If you lead people with laws and keep them in line with punishments, they will avoid wrongdoing but have no sense of shame. If you lead them with virtue and keep them in line with ritual, they will develop a sense of shame and also correct themselves.”
Confucius said: “At fifteen, I set my heart on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I understood the will of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was attuned to truth. At seventy, I could follow my heart’s desires without overstepping the boundaries.”
Meng Yizi asked about filial piety. Confucius said: “Do not disobey.”
Later, as Fan Chi was driving him, Confucius said: “Meng Sun asked me about filial piety, and I answered, ‘Do not disobey.’” Fan Chi asked: “What does that mean?” Confucius said: “When your parents are alive, serve them according to ritual. When they die, bury them according to ritual and honor them with sacrifices according to ritual.”
Meng Wubo asked about filial piety. Confucius said: “A filial child is one who causes their parents to worry only about their health.”
Ziyou asked about filial piety. Confucius said: “Today, people think being filial means simply providing for their parents. But even dogs and horses receive that kind of care. Without reverence, what difference is there?”
Zixia asked about filial piety. Confucius said: “The hard part is maintaining a respectful demeanor. When there is work to be done, the young take on the labor. When there is wine and food, the elders are served first. Is this all that filial piety means?”
Confucius said: “I spoke with Hui all day long, and he never disagreed with me—he seemed dull. But after he left, when I observed his private conduct, I saw that he was fully capable of putting my teachings into practice. Hui was not dull at all.”
Confucius said: “Look at what a person does, examine how they go about it, and observe what brings them peace. How can anyone hide who they truly are? How can anyone hide?”
Confucius said: “Reviewing the old and understanding the new—such a person can be a teacher.”
Confucius said: “A noble person is not a mere vessel.”
Zigong asked about the noble person. Confucius said: “First they put their words into action, and then they speak accordingly.”
Confucius said: “The noble person is inclusive, not partisan. The petty person is partisan, not inclusive.”
Confucius said: “To learn without thinking is to be lost. To think without learning is dangerous.”
Confucius said: “Attacking heretical ideas only brings harm.”
Confucius said: “You, shall I teach you what knowledge is? To know what you know and to know what you do not know—that is true knowledge.”
Zizhang asked how to secure an official position. Confucius said: “Listen widely, set aside what you doubt, and speak cautiously about the rest—then you will make few mistakes. Observe widely, set aside what seems risky, and act cautiously about the rest—then you will have few regrets. If your words bring few mistakes and your actions few regrets, an official position will naturally follow.”
Duke Ai asked: “What must I do so that the people will obey?” Confucius replied: “Promote the upright and set them above the crooked, and the people will obey. Promote the crooked and set them above the upright, and the people will not obey.”
Ji Kangzi asked: “How can I make the people respectful, loyal, and diligent?” Confucius said: “Lead them with dignity, and they will be respectful. Be filial and kind, and they will be loyal. Promote the good and teach those who are unable, and they will be diligent.”
Someone said to Confucius: “Why do you not engage in governance?” Confucius replied: “The Book of Documents says: ‘Be filial, only be filial, be friendly to your brothers, and extend this to governance.’ This too is governance. Why must I hold an official position to be considered governing?”
Confucius said: “A person without trustworthiness—I don’t know how that could work. A large cart without a yoke, a small cart without a collar—how could they move?”
Zizhang asked: “Can we know what will happen ten generations from now?” Confucius said: “The Yin dynasty adapted the rituals of the Xia—what they added and removed can be known. The Zhou dynasty adapted the rituals of the Yin—what they added and removed can be known. If there is a dynasty that follows the Zhou, even a hundred generations from now, it can be known.”
Confucius said: “To offer sacrifices to spirits not your own is flattery. To see what is right and not act is cowardice.”