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Self Cultivation13

Xue Er (學而), Chapter 12 | Seek Harmony Without Losing Principle Traditional Chinese有子曰:「禮之用,和為貴。先王之道,斯為美。小大由之,有所不行。知和而和,不以禮節之,亦不可行也。」Simplified Chinese有子曰:“礼之用,和为贵。先王之道,斯为美。小大由之,有所不行。知和而和,不以礼节之,亦不可行也。”PinyinYǒu Zǐ yuē: “Lǐ zhī yòng, hé wéi guì. Xiān wáng zhī dào, sī wéi měi. Xiǎo dà yóu zhī, yǒu suǒ bù xíng. Zhī hé ér hé, bù yǐ lǐ jié zhī, yì bù kě xíng yě.”Reading the Passage LiterallyYouzi said:“In the practice of Li (禮), harmony is considered precious. In.. 2026. 8. 30.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 11 | What Should We Carry Forward from Our Parents? Traditional Chinese子曰:「父在,觀其志;父沒,觀其行;三年無改於父之道,可謂孝矣。」Simplified Chinese子曰:“父在,观其志;父没,观其行;三年无改于父之道,可谓孝矣。”PinyinZǐ yuē: “Fù zài, guān qí zhì; fù mò, guān qí xíng; sān nián wú gǎi yú fù zhī dào, kě wèi xiào yǐ.”Reading the Passage LiterallyConfucius said:“When the father is alive, observe the son’s intentions; when the father has died, observe his conduct. If for three years he does not change his f.. 2026. 8. 30.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 8 | Stand Firm, and Do Not Fear Correcting Your Mistakes Traditional Chinese子曰:「君子不重則不威,學則不固。主忠信,無友不如己者。過則勿憚改。」Simplified Chinese子曰:“君子不重则不威,学则不固。主忠信,无友不如己者。过则勿惮改。”PinyinZǐ yuē: “Jūnzǐ bù zhòng zé bù wēi, xué zé bù gù. Zhǔ zhōng xìn, wú yǒu bù rú jǐ zhě. Guò zé wù dàn gǎi.”Reading the Passage LiterallyConfucius said:“If the Junzi (君子) is not serious and steady, he will have no dignity, and what he learns will not be firmly established. Take loyalty an.. 2026. 8. 29.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 6 | Live with Character First, Then Learn from Books Traditional Chinese子曰:「弟子入則孝,出則弟,謹而信,汎愛衆,而親仁。行有餘力,則以學文。」 Simplified Chinese子曰:“弟子入则孝,出则弟,谨而信,泛爱众,而亲仁。行有余力,则以学文。” PinyinZǐ yuē: “Dìzǐ rù zé xiào, chū zé tì, jǐn ér xìn, fàn ài zhòng, ér qīn rén. Xíng yǒu yúlì, zé yǐ xué wén.”Reading the Whole PassageConfucius said:“A young person should be filial at home and respectful to elders when away from home, careful in conduct and trustworthy, caring broa.. 2026. 8. 28.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 4 | I Examine Myself in Three Ways Every Day Traditional Chinese曾子曰:「吾日三省吾身:為人謀而不忠乎?與朋友交而不信乎?傳不習乎?」 Simplified Chinese曾子曰:“吾日三省吾身:为人谋而不忠乎?与朋友交而不信乎?传不习乎?” PinyinZēngzǐ yuē: “Wú rì sān xǐng wú shēn: Wèi rén móu ér bù zhōng hū? Yǔ péngyǒu jiāo ér bù xìn hū? Chuán bù xí hū?”Reading the Whole PassageZengzi (曾子) said:“Every day I examine myself in three ways: In working on behalf of others, have I failed to do my best? In my relationships with f.. 2026. 8. 28.
Xue Er (學而), Chapter 3 | When Words Are Clever and Expressions Pleasing Traditional Chinese子曰:「巧言令色,鮮矣仁。」 Simplified Chinese子曰:“巧言令色,鲜矣仁。” PinyinZǐ yuē: “Qiǎo yán lìng sè, xiǎn yǐ rén.”Reading the Whole PassageConfucius said:“Clever words and pleasing expressions—Ren (仁) is rarely found in them.” This is one of the shortest passages in the Analects, yet its point is remarkably direct. Confucius contrasts an outward manner carefully fashioned to please others with Re.. 2026. 8. 27.