"The Doctrine of the Mean" is a prose that discusses the cultivation of Confucian human nature. It was originally the 31st chapter of the "Book of Rites". It is said to have been written by Zi Si. Zhu Xi wrote the "Commentary on the Doctrine of the Mean", which was eventually officially called the "Four Books" along with "The Great Learning", "The Analects" and "Mencius". After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, "The Doctrine of the Mean" became an official textbook in schools and a required reading for imperial examinations.

"The Doctrine of the Mean" has always been the "source of inspiration for the creative mind" in the history of Chinese thought (Du Weiming's "Insights on the Doctrine of the Mean·Preface to the First Edition of the English Edition"), and it is also the most vividly expressed in the "Four Books" Works that demonstrate the wisdom and philosophical insights of Chinese people. There are all living beings in the world. To be able to treat people, make friends, govern, and do things well and just right requires the wisdom of dealing with people. In today's fierce competition and complex interpersonal relationships, it is extremely precious to study and learn from the wisdom in "The Doctrine of the Mean" .

1. Therefore, a gentleman is cautious about what he does not see, and is afraid of what he does not hear. He does not see what is hidden, and does not show anything insignificant. Therefore, a gentleman is careful about what he alone is.

Interpretation Therefore, a person with high moral character is cautious where no one can see him, and he is also cautious where no one can hear him. The more hidden things are, the easier it is to reveal them, and the more subtle things are, the easier they are to be revealed. Therefore, people with high moral character should be more cautious when they are alone.

2. When joy, anger, sorrow, and joy have not yet developed, it is called the middle; when they develop, they are all in the middle, and it is called harmony; the middle is the foundation of the world; the harmony is the great way of the world. To achieve neutrality, the heaven will have its place and all things will be nurtured.

Explanation: When emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and joy are not expressed, it is called "moderate"; when emotions are expressed in a moderate but not excessive manner, it is called "harmony." "Zhong" is the nature that everyone has; "harmony" is the principle that the world must universally follow. If we practice "neutral" to the best of our ability, heaven and earth will be in their proper place, and all things will grow and multiply.

3. A gentleman is moderate, and a villain is against the mean. A gentleman is moderate, and a gentleman is moderate in time;

Explanation: The words and deeds of a gentleman are in line with the golden mean, while the words and deeds of a villain are contrary to the golden mean. The reason why a gentleman is consistent with the golden mean is because he can be moderate in the changes; the villain is contrary to the golden mean. It's because villains are unscrupulous and go to extremes.

4. Therefore, if a gentleman is harmonious and not dissatisfied, he is strong and correct! Neutral but not leaning, strong and correct! The state-owned Tao does not change the way it is blocked, but it can be corrected if it is strong! The country has no principles and will not change until death. How can you be so strong?

Interpretation Therefore, people with high moral character are really strong if they are harmonious and do not follow the crowd! Stay neutral and unbiased, this is really strong! When the country is politically peaceful and does not change its conduct when it is in trouble, this is how strong it is! When the country's politics is dark, you insist on integrity and would rather die than change. This is how strong you are!

5. Loyalty and forgiveness are not far away from the wrong path. Don’t do it to others if you don’t want to do it to yourself.

Explanation: If a person is loyal and forgiving, then he is not far from the golden mean. If you are not willing to do something, don't force it on others.

6. If you are righteous to yourself and do not ask for others, you will have no resentment. You will not blame heaven above, and you will not blame others below. Therefore, a gentleman lives in easy places to wait for his fate, and a villain takes risks to gain luck.

Explanation: Correct yourself and not be harsh on others, so that there will be no complaints. Don't blame heaven when you're above, don't blame others when you're below. Therefore, a gentleman keeps to himself and waits for fate, while a villain specializes in adventurous things, hoping to get undue benefits by chance.

7. Shooting is like a gentleman. He misses the right target and seeks for his body instead.

Explanation: A gentleman's attitude towards life is like shooting an arrow. If the arrow fails to hit the target, it is not the fault of the target but the fault of his own poor archery skills and incorrect intentions.

8. The way of a gentleman is as follows: if you travel far, you will always be near; if you climb high, you will humble yourself.

Explanation: A gentleman's practice of the golden mean is like taking a long road, he must start from near; just like climbing a high mountain, he must start from low.

9. There are five ways to achieve perfection in the world, so there are three ways to practice them: monarch and minister, father and son, husband and wife, brothers and sisters, and friendship among friends. These five are the ways to achieve perfection in the world. Knowledge, benevolence, and courage are the three virtues in the world, so those who practice them are the same.

Explanation: There are five ethical principles that everyone in the world should follow, and there are three kinds of virtues used to implement these principles. That is to say, the five principles of the relationship between ruler and minister, father and son, husband and wife, brothers and the relationship between friends are universal principles in ancient times and today. Wisdom, benevolence and courage are common virtues in ancient and today, and their implementation depends on the word "sincerity".

10. Being eager to learn is close to knowledge, practicing is close to benevolence, and knowing shame is close to courage.

Interpretation: If you like learning, you are close to wisdom; if you practice hard, you are close to benevolence; if you know shame, you are close to courage.

11. Sincerity is the way of heaven; sincerity is the way of man. The sincere person achieves the goal without force, achieves without thinking, takes the middle path calmly, and is a sage. The sincere person chooses the good but is stubborn.

Interpretation: Truth and innocence are the innate principles of all things, and the pursuit of sincerity is the principle of life. People who are born sincere will be able to conform to the golden mean without forcing, gain without thinking, and be consistent with the golden mean. Those who have reached this state are saints. Those who strive to be sincere are those who choose the good way and persevere. People who persevere.

12. Learn it well, interrogate it, think carefully, discern it clearly, and practice it sincerely.

Explanation: To be knowledgeable, to study widely; to interrogate, to ask targeted questions for advice; to think carefully, to learn to think comprehensively; to be discerning, to form a clear judgment; to practice diligently, to use the knowledge and thoughts acquired through study Guide practice.

13. Only the most sincere people in the world can fulfill their nature; if they can fulfill their nature, they can fulfill the nature of people; if they can fulfill the nature of people, they can fulfill the nature of things; if they can fulfill the nature of things, Then you can praise the transformation and education of heaven and earth; if you can praise the transformation and education of heaven and earth, you can join in the relationship with heaven and earth.

Interpretation: Only the most sincere people in the world can give full play to their own innate nature; if they can give full play to their innate nature, they can give full play to the nature of everyone; if they can give full play to the nature of everyone, they can give full play to the nature of all things. If you can give full play to the nature of all things, you can help heaven and earth transform and nurture life; if you can help heaven and earth transform and nurture life, you can be tied with heaven and earth as three.

14. Sincerity is the beginning and end of things; dishonesty is nothing, so a gentleman’s sincerity is the most valuable thing.

Interpretation Sincerity is the origin and destination of everything in the world; if there is no sincerity, there will be no everything. Therefore, a gentleman regards sincerity as the most precious thing.

15. Those who are stupid but fond of self-use, cheap but fond of self-absorption, born in this world, and rebelling against the ancient ways, are those who will bring disaster to their bodies.

Explanation: Those who are stupid but like to be self-righteous, humble but like to be arbitrary, live in the current era but want to restore the ancient system, disaster will surely befall those who do this.

16. Words are taken into account by deeds, and deeds are taken into account by words. A gentleman is not careful.

Explanation: Speeches must conform to one's actions, and behaviors must conform to one's remarks. How could such a gentleman be unfaithful and honest?

17. A benevolent person is a human being, and it is great to be close to relatives; a righteous person is a suitable person, and it is great to respect the virtuous.

Explanation Ren means loving others, loving relatives is the greatest benevolence; righteousness means doing things appropriately, and respecting virtuous people is the greatest righteousness.

18. If a person is capable of one thing, he will be able to do a hundred things; if a person is capable of ten things, he will be able to do a thousand things. If you can do this, you will be wise no matter how stupid you are, and you will be strong no matter how soft you are.

Explanation: If others can do it with one minute of effort, do it with 100% effort; if others can do it with 10% of effort, do it with 1000% of effort. If we can do this, even stupid people can become wise, and even weak people can become strong.

19. If you are hesitant in everything, you will be successful; if you are not hesitant, it will be wasted; if you are determined in advance, you will not be tired; if you are determined in advance, you will not be trapped; if you are determined in advance, you will not feel guilty; if you are determined in advance, you will not be poor.

Explanation: In anything, you can succeed if you are prepared in advance, and you will fail if you are not prepared; if you are prepared before you speak, you will not be at a loss for words; if you are prepared before doing something, you will not be able to stand up. When encountering difficulties and setbacks; if you plan and make decisions before taking action, you will not make mistakes and regret it; if you can decide the principles of life in advance, you will not fail.

20. A gentleman has no guilt when he introspects, and has no evil in his ambitions. What is beyond the reach of a gentleman is only invisible to others!

Explanation: A gentleman who constantly reflects on himself will have no guilt and a clear conscience. The reason why a gentleman's virtue is higher than that of ordinary people is probably because he can be strict with himself even when he is not seen by others.

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