Tai Bo

Confucius said, "Tai Bo may be considered a man of the highest virtue. He declined the throne three times in favor of his younger brother Ji Li, yet the people could find no adequate words to praise his noble character."

Confucius remarked: "Respect without understanding ritual leads to laborious formality. Caution without ritual becomes timidity. Courage without ritual turns into recklessness. Frankness without ritual appears harsh. When a noble man treats his kinsmen generously, common people will embrace benevolence. When he doesn't abandon old associates, the masses won't become cold-hearted."

When Zengzi fell ill, he summoned his disciples and said: "Look at my feet! Examine my hands! The Book of Songs says: 'Trembling with caution, as if standing by a deep abyss, as if treading on thin ice.' Now I know I've preserved myself intact from harm, my disciples!"

When Zengzi was ill, Meng Jingzi visited him. Zengzi advised: "A dying bird's song turns mournful; a dying man's words turn kind. A gentleman values three principles: Maintain dignified composure to avoid rudeness; cultivate sincere expressions to earn trust; regulate speech and tone to prevent crudeness. As for sacrificial rituals, let the officials handle them."

Zengzi said: "A capable person consults the incapable; the knowledgeable seeks advice from the ignorant. To possess learning yet appear unlearned; to be full yet seem empty; to accept offense without resentment - this is how my late friend conducted himself."

Zengzi said: "One who can be entrusted with a young ruler, entrusted with state power, and remains steadfast even in life-and-death crises - is such a person a gentleman? Indeed, he is a gentleman!"

Zengzi said: "A scholar must be strong and resolute, for his burden is heavy and his road long. To take benevolence as his lifelong duty - is this not heavy? To pursue it until death - is this not long?"

Confucius said: "Education begins with the Book of Songs, is established through ritual, and perfected through music."

Confucius said: "The common people may be made to follow instructions, but not to understand the reasons."

Confucius said: "To love courage while hating poverty invites trouble. To hate the unvirtuous excessively also brings danger."

Confucius said: "Even if one possessed the talents of the Duke of Zhou, if coupled with arrogance and stinginess, all other qualities become worthless."

Confucius said: "After three years of study, if one hasn't obtained an official position, such cases are rare."

Confucius said: "Be devoted to learning and steadfast in truth. Avoid states in danger and don't dwell in chaotic regions. Appear when the world follows the Way; withdraw when it's lost. Poverty under good governance is shameful; wealth under bad governance is disgraceful."

Confucius said: "Don't concern yourself with affairs outside your official responsibilities."

Confucius said: "From Grand Music Master Zhi's opening to the closing Guanjue melody, how magnificently the music filled my ears!"

Confucius said: "Arrogant yet not upright; ignorant yet not cautious; seemingly sincere yet untrustworthy - I know not what to make of such people."

Confucius said: "Acquiring knowledge is like chasing something, always fearing to lose what's gained."

Confucius exclaimed: "How sublime! Shun and Yu possessed the world, yet ruled not for themselves but for all people."

Confucius praised: "Great indeed was Yao as ruler! Only Heaven is truly grand, and only Yao modeled himself after it. His virtue was boundless - people knew not how to praise him. Magnificent were his achievements! Resplendent were his ritual institutions!"

With five worthy ministers, Shun governed well. King Wu said: "I have ten capable ministers." Confucius commented: "Talents are rare indeed! From Yao and Shun's era to King Wu's time, only nine truly counted (as one of Wu's ten was a woman). King Wen held two-thirds of the realm yet served the Yin. The Zhou virtue was truly supreme."

Confucius said of Yu: "I find no fault with Yu. He ate plainly yet offered rich sacrifices; wore simple clothes yet splendid sacrificial robes; lived humbly yet devoted himself to irrigation works. Truly, I find no fault in Yu."

Tai Bo's Pictures

The eighth chapter of the Analects, the Taibo chapter