Threads · tiān

天 Heaven, Fate & the Way

Heaven's decree, destiny, death, and the moral order of things.

69 sayings touch this thread

I.6The Master said, ‘A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love…The Master
II.4The Master said, ‘At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. ‘At thirty, I stood firm. ‘At forty, I had no doubts. ‘At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven.…The Master
II.5Mang I asked what filial piety was. The Master said, ‘It is not being disobedient.’ Soon after, as Fan Ch’ih was driving him, the Master told him, saying,…The Master
II.24The Master said, ‘For a man to sacrifice to a spirit which does not belong to him is flattery. ‘To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.’The Master
III.2The three families used the YUNG ode, while the vessels were being removed, at the conclusion of the sacrifice. The Master said, ‘“Assisting are the princes;—…The Master
III.12He sacrificed to the dead, as if they were present. He sacrificed to the spirits, as if the spirits were present. The Master said, ‘I consider my not being…The Master
III.13Wang-sun Chia asked, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the saying, “It is better to pay court to the furnace than to the south-west corner?”’ The Master said,…The Master
III.21The Duke Ai asked Tsai Wo about the altars of the spirits of the land. Tsai Wo replied, ‘The Hsia sovereign planted the pine tree about them; the men of the…Tsai Wo
III.24The border warden at Yi requested to be introduced to the Master, saying, ‘When men of superior virtue have come to this, I have never been denied the…
IV.8The Master said, ‘If a man in the morning hear the right way, he may die in the evening without regret.’The Master
V.12Tsze-kung said, ‘The Master’s personal displays of his principles and ordinary descriptions of them may be heard. His discourses about man’s nature, and the…Tsze-kung
VI.2The Duke Ai asked which of the disciples loved to learn. Confucius replied to him, ‘There was Yen Hui; HE loved to learn. He did not transfer his anger; he did…The Master
VI.4The Master, speaking of Chung-kung, said, ‘If the calf of a brindled cow be red and horned, although men may not wish to use it, would the spirits of the…Chung-kung
VI.8Po-niu being ill, the Master went to ask for him. He took hold of his hand through the window, and said, ‘It is killing him. It is the appointment of Heaven,…
VI.17The Master said, ‘Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness, and yet live, his escape from death is the effect of mere good fortune.’The Master
VI.20Fan Ch’ih asked what constituted wisdom. The Master said, ‘To give one’s self earnestly to the duties due to men, and, while respecting spiritual beings, to…The Master
VI.22The Master said, ‘Ch’i, by one change, would come to the State of Lu. Lu, by one change, would come to a State where true principles predominated.’The Master
VI.26The Master having visited Nan-tsze, Tsze-lu was displeased, on which the Master swore, saying, ‘Wherein I have done improperly, may Heaven reject me, may…
VII.20The subjects on which the Master did not talk, were— extraordinary things, feats of strength, disorder, and spiritual beings.
VII.22The Master said, ‘Heaven produced the virtue that is in me. Hwan T’ui— what can he do to me?’The Master
VII.34The Master being very sick, Tsze-lu asked leave to pray for him. He said, ‘May such a thing be done?’ Tsze-lu replied, ‘It may. In the Eulogies it is said,…The Master
VIII.4The philosopher Tsang being ill, Meng Chang went to ask how he was. Tsang said to him, ‘When a bird is about to die, its notes are mournful; when a man is…The philosopher Tsang
VIII.7The philosopher Tsang said, ‘The officer may not be without breadth of mind and vigorous endurance. His burden is heavy and his course is long. ‘Perfect virtue…The philosopher Tsang
VIII.13The Master said, ‘With sincere faith he unites the love of learning; holding firm to death, he is perfecting the excellence of his course. ‘Such an one will…The Master
VIII.19The Master said, ‘Great indeed was Yao as a sovereign! How majestic was he! It is only Heaven that is grand, and only Yao corresponded to it. How vast was his…The Master
VIII.21The Master said, ‘I can find no flaw in the character of Yu. He used himself coarse food and drink, but displayed the utmost filial piety towards the spirits.…The Master
IX.1The subjects of which the Master seldom spoke were— profitableness, and also the appointments of Heaven, and perfect virtue.
IX.5The Master was put in fear in K’wang. He said, ‘After the death of King Wan, was not the cause of truth lodged here in me? ‘If Heaven had wished to let this…
IX.6A high officer asked Tsze-kung, saying, ‘May we not say that your Master is a sage? How various is his ability!’ Tsze-kung said, ‘Certainly Heaven has endowed…The Master
IX.11The Master being very ill, Tsze-lu wished the disciples to act as ministers to him. During a remission of his illness, he said, ‘Long has the conduct of Yu…
X.4When he entered the palace gate, he seemed to bend his body, as if it were not sufficient to admit him. When he was standing, he did not occupy the middle of…
X.5When he was carrying the scepter of his ruler, he seemed to bend his body, as if he were not able to bear its weight. He did not hold it higher than the…
X.13When the prince sent him a gift of cooked meat, he would adjust his mat, first taste it, and then give it away to others. When the prince sent him a gift of…
X.15When any of his friends died, if he had no relations who could be depended on for the necessary offices, he would say, ‘I will bury him.’ When a friend sent…
XI.6Chi K’ang asked which of the disciples loved to learn. Confucius replied to him, ‘There was Yen Hui; he loved to learn. Unfortunately his appointed time was…The Master
XI.7When Yen Yuan died, Yen Lu begged the carriage of the Master to sell and get an outer shell for his son’s coffin. The Master said, ‘Every one calls his son his…The Master
XI.8When Yen Yuan died, the Master said, ‘Alas! Heaven is destroying me! Heaven is destroying me!’
XI.9When Yen Yuan died, the Master bewailed him exceedingly, and the disciples who were with him said, ‘Master, your grief is excessive?’ ‘Is it excessive?’ said…
XI.10When Yen Yuan died, the disciples wished to give him a great funeral, and the Master said, ‘You may not do so.’ The disciples did bury him in great style. The…The Master
XI.11Chi Lu asked about serving the spirits of the dead. The Master said, ‘While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits?’ Chi Lu added, ‘I…The Master
XI.12The disciple Min was standing by his side, looking bland and precise; Tsze-lu, looking bold and soldierly; Zan Yu and Tsze-kung, with a free and…
XI.18The Master said, ‘There is Hui! He has nearly attained to perfect virtue. He is often in want. ‘Ts’ze does not acquiesce in the appointments of Heaven, and his…The Master
XI.22The Master was put in fear in K’wang and Yen Yuan fell behind. The Master, on his rejoining him, said, ‘I thought you had died.’ Hui replied, ‘While you were…Yen Hui
XI.24Tsze-lu got Tsze-kao appointed governor of Pi. The Master said, ‘You are injuring a man’s son.’ Tsze-lu said, ‘There are (there) common people and officers;…The Master
XI.25Tsze-lu, Tsang Hsi, Zan Yu, and Kung-hsi Hwa were sitting by the Master. He said to them, ‘Though I am a day or so older than you, do not think of that. ‘From…The Master
XII.1Yen Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, ‘To subdue one’s self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself…The Master
XII.5Sze-ma Niu, full of anxiety, said, ‘Other men all have their brothers, I only have not.’ Tsze-hsia said to him, ‘There is the following saying which I have…Tsze-hsia
XII.7Tsze-kung asked about government. The Master said, ‘The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and…The Master
XII.10Tsze-chang having asked how virtue was to be exalted, and delusions to be discovered, the Master said, ‘Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles,…
XIV.6Nan-kung Kwo, submitting an inquiry to Confucius, said, ‘I was skillful at archery, and Ao could move a boat along upon the land, but neither of them died a…The Master
XIV.17Tsze-lu said, ‘The Duke Hwan caused his brother Chiu to be killed, when Shao Hu died with his master, but Kwan Chung did not die. May not I say that he was…The Master
XIV.18Tsze-kung said, ‘Kwan Chung, I apprehend, was wanting in virtue. When the Duke Hwan caused his brother Chiu to be killed, Kwan Chung was not able to die with…The Master
XIV.37The Master said, ‘Alas! there is no one that knows me.’ Tsze-kung said, ‘What do you mean by thus saying— that no one knows you?’ The Master replied, ‘I do not…The Master
XIV.43Tsze-chang said, ‘What is meant when the Shu says that Kao-tsung, while observing the usual imperial mourning, was for three years without speaking?’ The…The Master
XV.19The Master said, ‘The superior man dislikes the thought of his name not being mentioned after his death.’The Master
XV.34The Master said, ‘Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from…The Master
XVI.2Confucius said, ‘When good government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions proceed from the son of Heaven. When bad…The Master
XVI.8Confucius said, ‘There are three things of which the superior man stands in awe. He stands in awe of the ordinances of Heaven. He stands in awe of great men.…The Master
XVI.12The duke Ching of Ch’i had a thousand teams, each of four horses, but on the day of his death, the people did not praise him for a single virtue. Po-i and…
XVI.13Ch’an K’ang asked Po-yu, saying, ‘Have you heard any lessons from your father different from what we have all heard?’ Po-yu replied, ‘No. He was standing alone…
XVII.6Tsze-chang asked Confucius about perfect virtue. Confucius said, ‘To be able to practise five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue.’ He…The Master
XVII.10The Master said to Po-yu, ‘Do you give yourself to the Chau-nan and the Shao-nan. The man who has not studied the Chau-nan and the Shao-nan, is like one who…The Master
XVII.19The Master said, ‘I would prefer not speaking.’ Tsze-kung said, ‘If you, Master, do not speak, what shall we, your disciples, have to record?’ The Master said,…The Master
XVIII.1The Viscount of Wei withdrew from the court. The Viscount of Chi became a slave to Chau. Pi-kan remonstrated with him and died. Confucius said, ‘The Yin…The Master
XIX.4Tsze-hsia said, ‘Even in inferior studies and employments there is something worth being looked at; but if it be attempted to carry them out to what is remote,…Tsze-hsia
XIX.25Ch’an Tsze-ch’in, addressing Tsze-kung, said, ‘You are too modest. How can Chung-ni be said to be superior to you?’ Tsze-kung said to him, ‘For one word a man…Tsze-kung
XX.1Yao said, ‘Oh! you, Shun, the Heaven-determined order of succession now rests in your person. Sincerely hold fast the due Mean. If there shall be distress and…
XX.2Tsze-chang asked Confucius, saying, ‘In what way should a person in authority act in order that he may conduct government properly?’ The Master replied, ‘Let…The Master
XX.3The Master said, ‘Without recognising the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man. ‘Without an acquaintance with the rules of Propriety, it…The Master