Quotes about the conduct of a gentleman

1. Don’t dare to be the first in the world.

From Chapter 67 of Laozi's "Tao Te Ching". Lao Tzu believes that a gentleman should not dare to be in the forefront of others.

2. A gentleman must be careful of his own actions.

From "University". "Be cautious about being alone" is a very important concept in Confucianism: it is easiest for a person to relax his guard against himself when he is alone, thus showing his truest nature.

3. A gentleman is a gentleman if he is dedicated to his will and body.

From "Xunzi·Cultivation of the Self". Du: solid, firm. Body: practice, practice, struggle. It means: A person who has a firm will and works hard for his career is called a gentleman.

4. Read and listen, seek and be humble.

From "Hanshu Meifu Biography". Read widely and listen to opinions from all sides, including the distant and lowly.

5. Fish without drying up the lake, and hunt without burning the forest.

Selected from "Wenzi". Don't drain the water to fish, don't burn the forest to hunt. And some people just trample long-term interests for immediate interests.

6. Riding on a horse to gallop, come to me and take the lead.

This sentence comes from Qu Yuan's "Li Sao". The meaning of the whole sentence: Come and gallop on a thousand-mile horse, I am willing to guide the way for the monarch (the way of the holy king).