Zizhang said, “If you are not grand in the manner you hold onto Virtue, or sincere in your trust in the Way, how can you be said to possess anything? How can you be said to lack anything?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zizhang said, He adheres to virtue but not expansively; he trusts in the Way but not with conviction—how can you tell if he’s really there or not?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
The Master replied, “In your speech, be dutiful and trustworthy, and in your conduct be sincere and respectful. In this way, you will always get by in the world, even if you find yourself in some barbarian state. If your words are not dutiful and trustworthy, and your conduct is not sincere and respectful, how can you possibly get along, even in your own region? When standing still, visualize these principles standing by your side; when riding in your carriage, see them resting before you on the crossbar. Only then will you get by in the world.”
Zizhang then wrote these words on the end of his sash.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zizhang asked about how to get along in the world. The Master said, If your words are loyal and trustworthy and your actions sincere and respectful, then even in the lands of the Man and Mo tribes you will get along. But if your words are not loyal and trustworthy and your actions not sincere and respectful, then even in your own district or village you won’t get along, will you? When you stand up, see these words plainly before you; when riding in your carriage, see them resting on the crossbar. Act in this way and then you will get along.
Zizhang wrote this down on his sash.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
