Confucius

The Master said, ‘Yu, shall I tell you what it is to know? To say you know when you know, and to say you do not when you do not, that is knowledge.’ (Book II, 17)

The Master said, ‘Make it your guiding principle to do your best for others and to be trustworthy in what you say. Do not accept as friend anyone who is not as good as you. When you make a mistake, do not be afraid of mending your ways.’ (Book IX, 25)

Tzu-chang asked Confucius about benevolence. Confucius said, ‘There are five things and whoever is capable of putting them into practice in the Empire is certainly “benevolent”.’

‘May I ask what they are?’

‘They are respectfulness, tolerance, trustworthiness in word, quickness, and generosity. If a man is respectful he will not be treated with insolence. If he is tolerant he will win the multitude. If he is trustworthy in word his fellow men will entrust him with responsibility. If he is quick he will achieve results. If he is generous he will be good enough to be put in a position over his fellow men.’ (Book XVII, 6)

Tzu-lu said, ‘Does the gentleman consider courage a supreme quality?’

The Master said, ‘For the gentleman it is morality that is supreme. Possessed of courage but devoid of morality, a gentleman will make trouble while a small man will be a brigand.’ (Book XVII, 23)

All excerpts from: Confucius: The Analects. (Lau, D.C. (1979). London, UK: Penguin Books)

Mencius

Mencius said to Kau Tzu, ‘A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time. Now your heart is blocked by grass.’ (Book VII, Part B, v. 21)

Mencius said, ‘A gentleman teaches in five ways. The first is by a transforming influence like that of timely rain. The second is by helping the student to realize his virtue to the full. The third is by helping him to develop his talent. The fourth is by answering his questions. And the fifth is by setting an example that others not in contact with him can emulate. These five are the ways in which a gentleman teaches.’ (Book VII, Part A, v. 40)

Mencius said, ‘It is often through adversity that men acquire virtue, wisdom, skill, and cleverness.’ (Book VII, Part A, v. 18)

Mencius said, ‘For a man to give full realization to his heart is for him to understand his own nature, and a man who knows his own nature will know Heaven. By retaining his heart and nurturing his nature, he is serving Heaven. Whether he is going to die young or to live to a ripe, old age makes no difference to his steadfastness of purpose. It is through awaiting whatever is to befall him with a perfected character that he stands firm on his proper destiny.’ (Book VII, Part A, v. 1)

All excerpts from: Mencius. (Lau, D. C. (Trans.) (1970). London, UK: Penguin Classics.)