Passage One
子曰：「學而時習之，不亦說乎？有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎？人不知而不慍，不亦君子乎？」
English Translation
Confucius said: Isn't doing the revision of things you learn according to a scheduled, a joyful thing?
Having friends coming to you from far away, isn't that a happy thing? If people don't understand you,
yet you don't complain about it, isn't that the spirit of a true gentleman?
Passage Two
有子曰：「其為人也孝弟，而好犯上者，鮮矣；不好犯上，而好作亂者，未之有也。君子務本，
本立而道生。孝弟也者，其為仁之本與！」
English Translation
Youzih said: Amount those who honor their parents, few of them are the type that likes to betray their
superiors. Among those who would not betray their superior, none would be a traitor. What make a
man a true gentleman at heart, start from the base of his psychology, with the right psychology base, he
would have the right moral value. So, been somebody who would honor his parents and respect their
elders, might be the psychological principle, of somebody that would be humane.
Passage Three
子曰：「巧言令色，鮮矣仁！」
English Translation
Confucius said: There are very few men who are a charming sweet talker, who are truly humane.
Passage Four
曾子曰：「吾日三省吾身：為人謀而不忠乎？與朋友交而不信乎？傳不習乎？」
English Translation
Zenzih said: Every day, I would conduct introspection upon myself for at least three times. When I work
for others, am I loyal? Do I keep to my words, to my friends? Things I learn, do I frequently revise them?
Passage Five
子曰：「道千乘之國：敬事而信，節用而愛人，使民以時。」
English Translation
Confucius said: The principle of governing a country, you must focus on the job of governing, be honest
all the time, the budget should be as cheap as possible, care about the people and take any opportunity
you have to further develop your nation.
Passage Six
子曰：「弟子入則孝，出則弟，謹而信，汎愛眾，而親仁。行有餘力，則以學文。」
English Translation
Confucius said: Young people should honour their parents, respect their brothers, be an honest person,
be kind to the masses and be close to those who are kind. Only after you did all these, are you worthy to
become an educated.
Note: Education is like a tool, in the hand of a good and humane person, a good education can be of
benefit. In the hand of a person with who is evil and not humane, education can lead to evil. For
example, if a talented lawyer that never lost a case chooses to only defend the known criminals, he is
using his skill for evil. But he chooses to only defend those who have been falsely accused he is using his
talent for good.
Passage Seven
子夏曰：「賢賢易色，事父母能竭其力，事君能致其身，與朋友交言而有信。雖曰未學，吾必謂
之學矣。」
English Translation
Zihsia said: If you can learn to prioritize a wise man over a beautiful sexy woman, do what you can to
honour your parents, do what you can for your country, make friend with those who keep their words,
then, even if you have no high qualification, I will still feel, you are someone that is well educated.
Passage Eight
子曰：「君子不重則不威，學則不固。主忠信，無友不如己者，過則勿憚改。」
English Translation
Confucius said: If a gentleman is not sensible, he will not be treated with dignity. If he is always studying,
he won't be stubborn. A true gentleman must be loyal and true to his words. A true gentleman won't
make friends with people of bad characters. A true gentleman won't be afraid to admit he is wrong and
change.
Passage Nine
曾子曰：「慎終追遠，民德歸厚矣。」
English Translation
Zenzih said: If you are willing to organize funerals with sincerity, remember your ancestors, then the
ethic of the society would be one that is simplicity.
Passage Ten
子禽問於子貢曰：「夫子至於是邦也，必聞其政，求之與？抑與之與？」子貢曰：「夫子溫、良、
恭、儉、讓以得之。夫子之求之也，其諸異乎人之求之與？」
English Translation
Zihqin asked Zihgong: Whenever master (Confucius) reaches a nation, he always managed to
understand the political situation of that country. Did he ask for that information or did people tell him
about it willingly?
Zihgong responded saying: Master gains that information by been warm, good, respectful, economical
and making way. The way master get information is probably different, from how other people get
information.
Passage Eleven
子曰：「父在，觀其志；父沒，觀其行；三年無改於父之道，可謂孝矣。」
English Translation
Confucius said: When one's father is alive, one should observe his ambition. After one's father is dead,
one should observe his behaviour. If one can maintain one's father's principle for at least three years
that qualify as honouring his father.
Passage Twelve
有子曰：「禮之用，和為貴。先王之道斯為美，小大由之。有所不行，知和而和，不以禮節之，
亦不可行也。」
English Translation
Youzih said: The principle of manner and politeness should be to maintain peace and harmony. This is
why the last King was able to be a good King because he maintains this principle, whether it is dealing
with major issues or minor issues. But to sacrifice the principle of manners and politeness, to maintain
peace and harmony, is not acceptable.
Passage Thirteen
有子曰：「信近於義，言可復也；恭近於禮，遠恥辱也；因不失其親，亦可宗也。」
English Translation
Youzih said: Only when honor is in coalition with justice, can it be upheld. Respect for others, must be in
alliance with politeness, only this way, can you stay away from humiliation. Only by knowing to use the
dependable people, can you be successful.
Passage Fourteen
子曰：「君子食無求飽，居無求安，敏於事而慎於言，就有道而正焉，可謂好學也已。」
English Translation
Confucius says: A true gentleman is not obsessed with luxury food or living quarter. A true gentleman is
keen while working, he is careful while he talks, he is eager to learn about principles.
Passage Fifteen
子貢曰：「貧而無諂，富而無驕，何如？」子曰：「可也。未若貧而樂 1，富而好禮者也。」子
貢曰：「《詩》云：『如切如磋，如琢如磨。』其斯之謂與？」子曰：「賜也，始可與言詩已矣！
告諸往而知來者。」
English Translation
Zihgong asked: How are people who are poor, but won't suck up to others? And how are people who are
rich, but are not arrogant?
Confucius said: That could do, be a dignified poor man or be a polite rich man.
Zihgong said: After you complete your training in manners, you would be like a piece of well-done jade,
polished after been cut, milled after been polished, right?
Confucius said: Zihgong, now I can speak poetry with you and you have what it take to understand the
future by knowing about the past.
Passage Sixteen
子曰：「不患人之不己知，患不知人也。」
English Translation
Confucius said: Don't be worry about people not understanding you. Worry about yourself, not
understanding others.
