This sentence means: if you don't learn from Li, you can't stand on the society.

Source: The Analects of Confucius Ji Shi

Original text:

Ask Yu Boyu: "Do you have different opinions?"

Yes: "Not yet. After tasting independence, the carp rushed to the DPRK and said,' How about learning poetry?' Yes:' Not yet.' If you don't learn this poem, there is nothing to say. Carp retired to study poetry. Another day, when he became independent, the carp hurried by the court and said,' How about learning etiquette?' Yes:' Not yet. "If you don't learn from Li, you can't stand it." Carp dropped out of school "Li". Vince, both. "

Chen Kang retired and said happily, "Ask one and you get three. You can smell poetry, you can smell ceremony, and you can smell the son of a gentleman. "

Translation:

Chen Kang asked Apollo, "Did you get any special guidance from the teacher?"

"No," Apollo replied. He used to stand there alone, and I walked quickly through the court. He said, "Have you ever studied poetry?" I answered' no', and he said: If you don't study poetry, you can't cope with speaking. I will study poetry when I come back. A few days ago, he stood alone again. I walked quickly through the courtroom. He said, "Have you learned the ceremony? I replied,' No. He said:' If you don't learn Li, you can't stand on the society.' . I want to learn "Li" when I go back. I have only heard these two doctrines. "

When Chen Kang came back, he said happily: Ask three questions, you know you want to learn poetry, you know you want to learn manners, and you know that a gentleman is not partial to his son.

Extended data:

Confucius adhered to the principle of enlightenment. Strictly speaking, no teacher can force a young man to pursue Tao unless he consciously follows it.

So Confucius suggested learning poetry to guide people to coordinate their basic feelings. He believes that "poetry" in the classical tradition, besides some other functions, can also be "inspirational", "group", "outlook" and "resentment". Confucius further pointed out that if you study poetry seriously, you can not only learn "you are the father", but also learn about natural phenomena such as birds, animals and plants.