In the Analects of Confucius - Confucius Say

“Don’t worry when people fail to recognize their merits, worry when you fail to recognize theirs”

How to Apply This Confucian Quote about the Golden Rule to Your Life:

Isn’t that another example of the golden rule that we should all follwo so as not to be hypocrites?

Of course.  So apply this by not being a hypocrite, and simply following the golden rule just as the quote suggests.  These sayings were not written for mere hobby, but instead to drive home important points about living life right, and doing unto others as you would have others do unto you, the golden rule in a nutshell.

Tags: Analects of Confucius, Confucius Say

Confucius on Dishonesty, Lack of Humility and Deviousness 4

Do We Have A Good Modern-Day Example of Deviousness?

Plenty…but the best example of such a person I can think of is Grima Wormtongue in the Lord of the Rings, or Rasputin. Such a strange and eccentric person can somehow mesmerize the unknowing and keep them under their devious self-serving spell. Be on your guard, and stay wise and on the right path.

Do what you can to curb such people’s power and ability to do anything. Disprove them carefully, and above all let them be the cause of their own demise, the greatest tactic of all, without even having to lift a finger.

Surely they are their own worst enemy, and will be their own downfall!  Confucius warned us…

Tags: Humility

Confucius on Dishonesty, Lack of Humility and Deviousness 3

In my last post, I gave 3 tips for being humble and avoiding dishonesty and deviousness.

In this post I’ll continue that with 3 more wise Confucian tips:

• Do not lower yourself to their level, be the wiser and let them have their heyday in the minor things if they must

• Do not put such people into positions of power, influence or control or any kind of importance if you can help it

• Be the things they are not. Be honest, modest, straightforward, decisive strong and steadfast in your beliefs, as long as you do right

In part 4 of this discussion I’ll wrap this Confucian Wisdom up!

Tags: Humility

Confucius on Dishonesty, Lack of Humility and Deviousness 2

Avoid Self-Deception

It’s a shame that anyone can be so self-deceived or simply so lacking in humility, so dishonest to themselves and others, and so devious. We would do well to:

• Never follow in their footsteps, they set a bad and disrespectful example

• Not cater to them or appease them in any way, instead ignore them and give them no quarter

• Guard against such people and avoid them…also beware of what they can say or do behind your back

Stay tunes for part 3 with 3 more great Confucian tips to continue this discussion…

Confucius on Dishonesty, Lack of Humility and Deviousness 1

The Analects of Confucius said, “The Master then inquired, ‘Ts’ze, have you also your hatreds?’ Tsze-kung replied, ‘I hate those who pry out matters, and ascribe the knowledge to their wisdom. I hate those who are only not modest, and think that they are valorous. I hate those who make known secrets, and think that they are straightforward.”

- A Quote from the Analects of Confucius

What can we learn from this wise Confucian teaching?

Some people can come across as kind, wise or modest, yet are completely the opposite in truth. These kind of people fool many, but the true people can see right through them.

I once knew someone like this. They pried out matters like a nosy busybody and then took credit for knowing what they knew as if they were wise from the beginning.

They also were rarely modest, but had to get on their soapbox continuously and welcomed every opportunity to do so, with seeming valor for what they pretended to stand for.

They also made secrets known to others that should be kept private and guarded with respect, and yet they thought their straightforwardness did no harm.  But it did…continued in part 2 of this article

Tags: Humility

Why Was Confucius Wise?

Confucius was wise because he followed the most basic principle of highly effective people…

Confucius sought first to understand…he listened intently…rather than seeking first to be understood.  This is a skill and quality most people just don’t have today, for some reason.

Today people only want to hear themselves talk rather than hear out the age old wisdom of others, such as their elders. They think they know it all, since they have so much information at their disposal thanks to Google.

People need to learn to be silent, keep it simple, and listen more.  Listening is truly a forgotten art and skill, and 80% of the people out there or more just don’t seem to listen!  Google doesn’t have all the answers!

Don’t be a statistic!  Listen and be as wise as Confucius was!  Confucius knew how to listen, and listened intently, and learned a lot.  You too can do what Confucius did!  Just listen!

Tags: How Confucius Got Wise

Confucian Wisdom Based On The Bible?

In the Analects, Confucius Said…

“An exemplary person should be slow to speak yet quick to act”

That’s interesting, because in the Bible we have this quote:

“Swift To Hear, Slow To Speak, And Slow To Wrath”
James 1:19

Was Confucius somehow exposed to the Bible and its wisdom such as in the book of Solomon? His quotes often seem to be in line with the Bible or at least similar, and I heard about a story where there seems to be a connection between Chinese language characters and the Bible.

See these two very interesting links about this:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v20/i3/china.asp

http://students.washington.edu/cbsf/cool/Chinese.swf

Interesting right?

Very.

A different type of “Chinese Connection”.

Back to How to Apply This Confucian Quote about the Golden Rule to Your Life:

We should guard our tongue in what we say, but that should not make us fail to act on important matters, right?

Be wise, hold your tongue, but take action when necessary!

Tags: Confucian Wisdom and the Bible

Confucius and the Golden Rule

In the Analects, Confucius Said

“Do not impose onto others what you do not wish for yourself”

How to Apply This Confucian Quote about the Golden Rule to Your Life:

Isn’t that another example of the golden rule that we should all follow so as not to be hypocrites?

Of course. So apply this by not being a hypocrite, and simply following the golden rule just as the quote suggests.

These sayings were not written for mere hobby, but instead to drive home important points about living life right, and doing unto others as you would have others do unto you, the golden rule in a nutshell.

Tags: Golden Rule

Confucius on Humility

In the Analects, Confucius Said…

“When you meet a worthy person, seek to become his equal…when you meet a fool look within and examine yourself…”

Isn’t that another example of the golden rule that we should all follow to be humble, so as not to be hypocrites?

Of course. The point is we should examine ourselves, our actions and opinions and then be humble. If someone is better, maybe we need to look up to them.

If someone is worse, maybe we need to make sure we’re also not as good as we think we are, instead of how we’re supposedly “better”. This is a powerful lesson in humility to few learn and practice.

How to Apply This Confucian Quote about the Golden Rule to Your Life:

So apply this by not being a hypocrite, and simply following humility as an attitude in life. Don’t always have a comment for everything. Be willing to shut up, listen and learn sometimes, and your presence will be treasured not despised.

Tags: Humility

Confucius Speaks From The Grave

No I’m not saying anything mystical, esoteric or spooky here…

Confucius like many wise people (Socrates, etc.) though somewhat well known and well-off while alive, were not as popular nor as rich if at all.

Yet Confucius’ teachings of Confucianism lived on for Centuries…

Over 2000 years…so this is how “Confucius speaks from the grave”…his teaching remain and continue to be perpetuated. To include this blog.

Confucius the Wise and Confucianism

Many of Confucius’ sayings and his ancient wisdom turned into a philosophy called Confucianism. His sayings were passed down from century to century in China where he lived.

Unfortunately, while Confucius was alive, like so many wise teachers in history, those who should’ve listened to him did not. This is the paradox of the wise sage throughout history, a mystery not often understood.

This is also tied to the fact that those who were great in many respects were also poor. the story of Mozart, perhaps the greatest musician who ever lived, is similar, and he died poor.

So too is the legacy of Confucius and his wisdom…

Once he was long gone, only then did his ideas start to really become recognized and noticed for what they are really worth.

Nevertheless Confucius had many students were he planted many of his seeds of knowledge and this grew and in many ways those little seeds sprang up and sprouted up and had major effects to this day, thousands of years later. Confucius still speaks from the grave…even here at Confucius-sayings.com!

Tags: Confucian Thought Today