Yang Huo

Yang Huo wished to see Confucius, but Confucius refused. Yang Huo then sent Confucius a roasted pig. Confucius waited until Yang Huo was away and went to return the courtesy, but they met on the road. Yang Huo called out, “Come! Let me speak with you.” Confucius approached. Yang Huo said, “Can one be called benevolent if they possess talent yet let their country fall into chaos?” Confucius replied, “No.” Yang Huo pressed, “Can one be called wise if they desire to govern but repeatedly miss opportunities?” Confucius answered, “No.” Yang Huo said, “Time slips away swiftly; it waits for no one.” Confucius finally said, “Very well. I shall take office.”

Confucius said, “By nature, people are close to one another; it is through habit and circumstance that they grow apart.”

Confucius said, “Only the wisest of the wise and the most foolish of the foolish never change.”

When Confucius visited Wucheng, he heard the sound of lute and song. Smiling, he remarked, “Why use a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken?” Ziyou replied, “Master, I once heard you say, ‘A gentleman who learns ritual and music loves others; a commoner who learns them becomes easy to govern.’” Confucius said, “Disciples, Ziyou is right. My earlier remark was merely a jest.”

Gongshan Furao, rebelling from Fei, summoned Confucius. Confucius prepared to go. Zilu protested, “Must you go to Gongshan?” Confucius said, “Can he who summons me do so in vain? If employed, I might revive the ways of Zhou in the east.”

Zizhang asked about benevolence. Confucius said, “To practice five virtues under heaven is benevolence: dignity, generosity, sincerity, diligence, and kindness. Dignity avoids insult; generosity wins support; sincerity earns trust; diligence brings efficiency; kindness inspires service.”

When Bi Xi summoned Confucius, Zilu objected, “You once said, ‘A gentleman does not join those who do evil.’ Bi Xi rebels in Zhongmou—why go?” Confucius replied, “True, I said that. But is not the hardest stone ground thin? Is not the whitest jade stained black? Am I a bitter gourd, hung but never eaten?”

Confucius said to Zilu, “Have you heard of the six virtues and their six flaws?” Zilu said no. Confucius explained: “Love of benevolence without learning leads to foolishness; love of wisdom without learning leads to recklessness; love of honesty without learning leads to exploitation; love of bluntness without learning leads to harshness; love of courage without learning leads to rebellion; love of strength without learning leads to arrogance.”

Confucius said, “Why do my disciples not study the Book of Songs? It stirs the heart, sharpens observation, teaches fellowship, guides remonstration. It serves parents nearby and rulers afar. It even names birds, beasts, plants, and trees.”

To Bo Yu, Confucius said, “Have you studied the Zhou Nan and Shao Nan? Without them, one stands as if facing a wall.”

Confucius said, “Are rituals merely the exchange of jade and silk? Is music merely the striking of bells and drums?”

Confucius said, “Outwardly fierce but inwardly weak—such a man is like a petty thief tunneling through walls.”

Confucius said, “The ‘good person’ who tolerates all wrongs is the ruin of virtue.”

Confucius said, “To spread rumors is to betray virtue.”

Confucius said, “Can one serve a ruler alongside petty men? Before gaining office, they fear not obtaining it; after gaining it, they fear losing it. Such men will stop at nothing.”

Confucius said, “Ancient flaws differ from modern ones. The ancient ‘mad’ were bold; today’s are reckless. The ancient ‘aloof’ were principled; today’s are resentful. The ancient ‘foolish’ were simple; today’s are deceitful.”

Confucius said, “Honeyed words and false smiles—such men lack benevolence.”

Confucius said, “I detest purple for usurping red’s rightful place, detest Zheng’s music for corrupting the classics, detest clever tongues that overthrow states.”

Confucius said, “I wish to speak no more.” Zigong protested, “If you stay silent, what shall we disciples transmit?” Confucius replied, “Does Heaven speak? The seasons turn, all things grow. What has Heaven said?”

When Ru Bei sought an audience, Confucius claimed illness. As the messenger left, Confucius took up his lute and sang loudly, ensuring Ru Bei heard.

Zai Wo asked, “Three years’ mourning is too long. A year suffices—new grain replaces old, firewood is renewed.” Confucius said, “Would you feel at ease eating fine rice and wearing silk after a year?” Zai Wo said, “Yes.” Confucius replied, “Then do so. But a gentleman in mourning finds no joy in food, music, or comfort. You feel at ease—so be it.” After Zai Wo left, Confucius said, “Zai Yu lacks humanity! A child is held in parents’ arms for three years. Three years’ mourning is universal. Did he not receive three years of love?”

Confucius said, “To eat one’s fill all day, idle and thoughtless—how hard that is! Are there not games like dice? Even those would be better.”

Zilu asked, “Does a gentleman value courage?” Confucius said, “A gentleman values righteousness above all. Courage without righteousness leads to rebellion; in petty men, it leads to theft.”

Zigong asked, “Does a gentleman harbor hatreds?” Confucius said, “Yes. He hates those who slander others, those below who defame those above, the brazenly rude, and the stubbornly ignorant.” He added, “Zigong, do you hate anything?” Zigong replied, “I hate plagiarists, those mistaking recklessness for courage, and those parading cruelty as honesty.”

Confucius said, “Women and petty men are hardest to nurture. Be close, and they grow insolent; be distant, and they resent you.”

Confucius said, “If a man is still despised at forty, his life is finished.”