When serving next to the gentleman and talking with the gentleman, be careful to avoid committing three kinds of mistakes: speaking before you are asked, which is called impatience; Asking you not to say it is called concealment; Speak rashly without looking at the gentleman's face, this is called not long-sighted. There are three things that a gentleman should take precautions against: when he is young, his flesh is still immature, and he must quit his infatuation with women; When the body is mature and the flesh is strong, it is necessary to abstain from fighting with others; When you are old, and your flesh is weakened, you must abstain from insatiable greed.

A gentleman has three things to revere in awe: reverence for the destiny of heaven, reverence for people of high status, and reverence for the words of saints; The villain does not understand the Mandate of Heaven, so he does not revere the Mandate of Heaven, does not know how to respect people of high status, and even insults the words of the saints. He who is born to know is a superior person; Those who know only after learning are second-class people; Those who encounter difficulties and then study are second-class people; People who don't study when they encounter difficulties are inferior people.

There are nine things for a gentleman to think about: when you look at it, you have to think about whether you have seen it clearly; When listening, think about whether you are hearing clearly. Your own complexion should be considered whether it is gentle or not; You should think about whether you are humble or not; When you speak, think about loyalty. When doing things, you should think about whether you are cautious and serious; When in doubt, think about whether you should ask someone for advice. When you are angry, you should consider whether there will be consequences. When you receive financial gain, you should consider whether it is in line with the standard of righteousness.

When you see a good deed, you have to worry that you will not be able to do it. When you see an unkind behavior, it's like putting your hand in boiling water, and quickly dodge; I've seen people like that, and I've heard things like that. to protect one's ambition by seclusion and to carry out one's own claims according to the standard of righteousness; I've only heard such words, but I have never seen anyone like this. Qi Jinggong had 4,000 good horses, and when he died, the people felt that he had no virtue worthy of praise; Boyi and Shuqi starved to death at the foot of Shouyang Mountain, and the people are still praising them, that's what they mean!

Chen Kang asked Kong Li: Have you heard any special teachings from the teacher? Kong Lili replied: No! Once he was standing alone in the hall, and as I walked briskly through the court, he asked me if I had studied the Book of Songs, and I replied no; He told me that if I didn't learn the Book of Songs, I wouldn't know how to speak, so I went back and started to learn the Book of Songs; Another day, when he was standing alone in the hall again, and I walked through the court, and he asked me if I had learned the rites, and I replied that I had not; He told me that if I didn't learn etiquette, I wouldn't know how to stand up, so I went back and started learning etiquette. I've heard these two things, and they don't have any special teachings! After hearing this, Chen Kang happily replied: I asked a question, but I got three gains, I listened to the truth about the Book of Songs, listened to the truth about etiquette, and listened to the truth that a gentleman does not favor his son!

The wife of the king, the king calls her Mrs., the lady calls herself a child, and the people call her Mrs. Jun; People in other countries call her a widow, but they can also call her Mrs. Jun.

(17) "Yang Goods"

There are a total of 26 chapters in the "Yang Goods Chapter", among which the famous sentence is: "Human nature is similar, and they are different from each other due to different acquired habits"; "Only the superior wise and the inferior foolish will not be changed"; "A gentleman who is brave and unrighteous will make trouble, and a villain who is brave and unrighteous will steal"; "Only women and villains are difficult to get along with". In this article, Confucius's ideas on moral education are introduced, Confucius's further explanation of benevolence, as well as the question of holding a three-year mourning for his parents, and the difference between a gentleman and a villain.

The powerful minister of the Ji family wanted to visit Confucius, but Confucius didn't want to see him and deliberately avoided him. Yang goods gave Confucius a ripe piglet, and he did not reciprocate rudeness, so that Confucius had to visit him. Confucius followed the etiquette and inquired about the fact that when Yang was not at home, he went to Yang Xiang's house to thank him. Unexpectedly, I met Yang goods on the way. Yang said to Confucius: Come, I have something to say to you. Confucius approached him, and Yang said: Hiding one's own skills and allowing the country to be confused, is this called benevolence? Confucius replied: No. Yang goods also said: I like to participate in political affairs but repeatedly miss opportunities, is this called wisdom? Confucius replied: No. Yang Xiang continued: Time passes day by day, and the years wait for no one. Confucius finally replied helplessly: Okay, I'll be an official.

(Yang was a rebellious minister and thief whom Confucius despised and opposed politically, and Confucius was reluctant to associate with him, let alone become an official under him.) But succumbing to the requirements of the etiquette system, Confucius had to pay homage to him after receiving a gift from Yang Xiang. Yang goods are the retainers of Ji Pingzi, the doctor of Lu State, Ji has been in charge of the government of Lu for several generations, and at this time Yang goods are in charge of Ji's housekeeping, after Ji Pingzi's death, Yang goods are dictatorial and manage the political affairs of Lu State. Later, he conspired with Gongshan 不狃 (niǔ) to kill Ji Huanzi, and after his defeat, he fled to the Jin state. The Ji family was the minister of the Lu country, and the yang goods were the ministers of the Ji family, so it can be said that he was a hot figure at that time. ）

Human nature is similar, and there is a difference between them due to different later habits. Only the superior wise and the inferior fool cannot be changed. Ziyou was serving as the county magistrate of Wucheng, and Confucius once returned to Wucheng and heard the sound of someone playing the piano and singing; He smiled and said, "Why do you need to use a knife to kill a chicken?" It means that Wucheng is so small, and Ziyou also has to use the way of etiquette and music to educate the people, is it a bit of a fuss. After hearing this, Ziyou refuted Confucius and said: I heard the master say before, "When a gentleman learns etiquette and music, he will love others; When the common people learn the rites and music, it is easy to call, and I feel that I am right to do so. Confucius replied with a smile: "Students, what Zi You said is right, I was just joking!"

Zizhang asked Confucius about benevolence, and Confucius told him: If you can practice the five virtues everywhere, you are benevolent; Zizhang asked: What are the five virtues? Confucius replied: solemn, generous, honest, diligent, benevolent; Solemnity will not be insulted, generosity will be supported by all, honesty will be appointed by others, diligence will improve work efficiency, and kindness will be able to summon people.

Gongshan did not occupy Feiyi and rebelled, and one day he came to recruit Confucius, and Confucius was ready to go; Zilu was unhappy and said: If there is no place to go, why do you have to go to Gongshan Bufu? Confucius said: Is it just an empty word that he came to call me? If someone uses me, I will revive the Zhou rites in the East and establish the Western Zhou in the East. (Regarding this chapter, many scholars in later generations have raised doubts, in the "Zuo Chuan", there is a record of Gongshan Bufu's rebellion against the Lu state, but there is no record of calling Confucius; From this chapter, it is clear that Confucius is suspected of aiding the rebellion and not understanding righteousness, which is inconsistent with Confucius's consistent assertion. There is no way to verify what the historical facts are. ）