Threads · jūnzǐ

君子 The Superior Man

Confucius's exemplary person — and the mean man who is his foil.

73 sayings touch this thread

  1. I.1The Master said, ‘Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application? ‘Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant…The Master
  2. I.2The philosopher Yu said, ‘They are few who, being filial and fraternal, are fond of offending against their superiors. There have been none, who, not liking to…The philosopher Yu
  3. I.14The Master said, ‘He who aims to be a man of complete virtue in his food does not seek to gratify his appetite, nor in his dwelling place does he seek the…The Master
  4. II.12The Master said, ‘The accomplished scholar is not a utensil.’The Master
  5. II.13Tsze-kung asked what constituted the superior man. The Master said, ‘He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.’The Master
  6. II.14The Master said, ‘The superior man is catholic and no partisan. The mean man is partisan and not catholic.’The Master
  7. IV.5The Master said, ‘Riches and honours are what men desire. If it cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held. Poverty and meanness are what…The Master
  8. IV.10The Master said, ‘The superior man, in the world, does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.’The Master
  9. IV.11The Master said, ‘The superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort. The superior man thinks of the sanctions of law; the small man thinks of…The Master
  10. IV.16The Master said, ‘The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain.’The Master
  11. IV.24The Master said, ‘The superior man wishes to be slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct.’The Master
  12. V.15The Master said of Tsze-ch’an that he had four of the characteristics of a superior man:— in his conduct of himself, he was humble; in serving his superiors,…The Master
  13. VI.3Tsze-hwa being employed on a mission to Ch’i, the disciple Zan requested grain for his mother. The Master said, ‘Give her a fu.’ Yen requested more. ‘Give her…The Master
  14. VI.11The Master said to Tsze-hsia, ‘Do you be a scholar after the style of the superior man, and not after that of the mean man.’The Master
  15. VI.24Tsai Wo asked, saying, ‘A benevolent man, though it be told him,— ‘There is a man in the well’ will go in after him, I suppose.’ Confucius said, ‘Why should he…The Master
  16. VI.25The Master said, ‘The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not…The Master
  17. VII.30The minister of crime of Ch’an asked whether the duke Chao knew propriety, and Confucius said, ‘He knew propriety.’ Confucius having retired, the minister…The Master
  18. VII.32The Master said, ‘In letters I am perhaps equal to other men, but the character of the superior man, carrying out in his conduct what he professes, is what I…The Master
  19. VII.36The Master said, ‘The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.’The Master
  20. VIII.6The philosopher Tsang said, ‘Suppose that there is an individual who can be entrusted with the charge of a young orphan prince, and can be commissioned with…The philosopher Tsang
  21. 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
  22. IX.13The Master was wishing to go and live among the nine wild tribes of the east. Some one said, ‘They are rude. How can you do such a thing?’ The Master said, ‘If…The Master
  23. X.6The superior man did not use a deep purple, or a puce colour, in the ornaments of his dress. Even in his undress, he did not wear anything of a red or reddish…
  24. XI.20The Master said, ‘If, because a man’s discourse appears solid and sincere, we allow him to be a good man, is he really a superior man? or is his gravity only…The Master
  25. 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
  26. XII.4Sze-ma Niu asked about the superior man. The Master said, ‘The superior man has neither anxiety nor fear.’ ‘Being without anxiety or fear!’ said Nui;— ‘does…The Master
  27. 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
  28. XII.8Chi Tsze-ch’ang said, ‘In a superior man it is only the substantial qualities which are wanted;— why should we seek for ornamental accomplishments?’ Tsze-kung…Tsze-kung
  29. XII.16The 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…The Master
  30. XII.24The philosopher Tsang said, ‘The superior man on grounds of culture meets with his friends, and by their friendship helps his virtue.’The philosopher Tsang
  31. XIII.3Tsze-lu said, ‘The ruler of Wei has been waiting for you, in order with you to administer the government. What will you consider the first thing to be done?’…The Master
  32. XIII.4Fan Ch’ih requested to be taught husbandry. The Master said, ‘I am not so good for that as an old husbandman.’ He requested also to be taught gardening, and…The Master
  33. XIII.23The Master said, ‘The superior man is affable, but not adulatory; the mean man is adulatory, but not affable.’The Master
  34. XIII.25The Master said, ‘The superior man is easy to serve and difficult to please. If you try to please him in any way which is not accordant with right, he will not…The Master
  35. XIII.26The Master said, ‘The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.’The Master
  36. 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
  37. XIV.7The Master said, ‘Superior men, and yet not always virtuous, there have been, alas! But there never has been a mean man, and, at the same time, virtuous.’The Master
  38. XIV.24The Master said, ‘The progress of the superior man is upwards; the progress of the mean man is downwards.’The Master
  39. XIV.28The philosopher Tsang said, ‘The superior man, in his thoughts, does not go out of his place.’The philosopher Tsang
  40. XIV.29The Master said, ‘The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.’The Master
  41. XIV.30The Master said, ‘The way of the superior man is threefold, but I am not equal to it. Virtuous, he is free from anxieties; wise, he is free from perplexities;…The Master
  42. XIV.45Tsze-lu asked what constituted the superior man. The Master said, ‘The cultivation of himself in reverential carefulness.’ ‘And is this all?’ said Tsze-lu. ‘He…The Master
  43. XV.1The Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about tactics. Confucius replied, ‘I have heard all about sacrificial vessels, but I have not learned military matters.’…The Master
  44. XV.6The Master said, ‘Truly straightforward was the historiographer Yu. When good government prevailed in his State, he was like an arrow. When bad government…The Master
  45. XV.17The Master said, ‘The superior man in everything considers righteousness to be essential. He performs it according to the rules of propriety. He brings it…The Master
  46. XV.18The Master said, ‘The superior man is distressed by his want of ability. He is not distressed by men’s not knowing him.’The Master
  47. XV.19The Master said, ‘The superior man dislikes the thought of his name not being mentioned after his death.’The Master
  48. XV.20The Master said, ‘What the superior man seeks, is in himself. What the mean man seeks, is in others.’The Master
  49. XV.21The Master said, ‘The superior man is dignified, but does not wrangle. He is sociable, but not a partizan.’The Master
  50. XV.22The Master said, ‘The superior man does not promote a man simply on account of his words, nor does he put aside good words because of the man.’The Master
  51. XV.31The Master said, ‘The object of the superior man is truth. Food is not his object. There is plowing;— even in that there is sometimes want. So with learning;—…The Master
  52. XV.33The Master said, ‘The superior man cannot be known in little matters; but he may be intrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be intrusted with…The Master
  53. XV.36The Master said, ‘The superior man is correctly firm, and not firm merely.’The Master
  54. XVI.1The head of the Chi family was going to attack Chwan-yu. Zan Yu and Chi-lu had an interview with Confucius, and said, ‘Our chief, Chi, is going to commence…The Master
  55. XVI.7Confucius said, ‘There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth, when the physical powers are not yet settled, he guards against lust.…The Master
  56. 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
  57. XVI.10Confucius said, ‘The superior man has nine things which are subjects with him of thoughtful consideration. In regard to the use of his eyes, he is anxious to…The Master
  58. 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…
  59. XVII.7Pi Hsi inviting him to visit him, the Master was inclined to go. Tsze-lu said, ‘Master, formerly I have heard you say, “When a man in his own person is guilty…The Master
  60. XVII.21Tsai Wo asked about the three years’ mourning for parents, saying that one year was long enough. ‘If the superior man,’ said he, ‘abstains for three years from…The Master
  61. XVII.23Tsze-lu said, ‘Does the superior man esteem valour?’ The Master said, ‘The superior man holds righteousness to be of highest importance. A man in a superior…The Master
  62. XVII.24Tsze-kung said, ‘Has the superior man his hatreds also?’ The Master said, ‘He has his hatreds. He hates those who proclaim the evil of others. He hates the man…The Master
  63. XVIII.7Tsze-lu, following the Master, happened to fall behind, when he met an old man, carrying across his shoulder on a staff a basket for weeds. Tsze-lu said to…The Master
  64. XIX.3The disciples of Tsze-hsia asked Tsze-chang about the principles that should characterize mutual intercourse. Tsze- chang asked, ‘What does Tsze-hsia say on…Tsze-chang
  65. 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
  66. XIX.7Tsze-hsia said, ‘Mechanics have their shops to dwell in, in order to accomplish their works. The superior man learns, in order to reach to the utmost of his…Tsze-hsia
  67. XIX.8Tsze-hsia said, ‘The mean man is sure to gloss his faults.’Tsze-hsia
  68. XIX.9Tsze-hsia said, ‘The superior man undergoes three changes. Looked at from a distance, he appears stern; when approached, he is mild; when he is heard to speak,…Tsze-hsia
  69. XIX.10Tsze-hsia said, ‘The superior man, having obtained their confidence, may then impose labours on his people. If he have not gained their confidence, they will…Tsze-hsia
  70. XIX.12Tsze-yu said, ‘The disciples and followers of Tsze-hsia, in sprinkling and sweeping the ground, in answering and replying, in advancing and receding, are…Tsze-yu
  71. XIX.20Tsze-kung said, ‘Chau’s wickedness was not so great as that name implies. Therefore, the superior man hates to dwell in a low-lying situation, where all the…Tsze-kung
  72. XIX.21Tsze-kung said, ‘The faults of the superior man are like the eclipses of the sun and moon. He has his faults, and all men see them; he changes again, and all…Tsze-kung
  73. 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