A gentleman is cautious and independent. What does this sentence mean?

A gentleman is cautious and independent, that is, the more he is in a hidden place where no one sees him, the more strict he is with himself, the more so.

Confucianism regards "cautious independence" as the most important code of conduct for gentlemen, and holds that "cautious independence" is the highest realm of personal moral demeanor. It is not difficult for people to be human in front of them, but when there is no supervision and no one else, they are facing themselves except heaven and earth.

A person is such a state. Being alone is not only with yourself, but also with heaven and earth, and with your own morality and values. When you are alone, you are facing your true self.

A gentleman is cautious and independent, and "cautious and independent" refers to the self-discipline from "superego": strictly restrain himself and strive to be the person he wants to be. Lu Jiuyuan of the Southern Song Dynasty said, "Be cautious about independence and don't deceive yourself". People can fool everyone, but they can't fool themselves at all. Be cautious and independent, be calm to others, and be at ease to yourself.

Extended data:

"A gentleman is cautious about independence", and a sentence in The Doctrine of the Mean says: "You can't be invisible, you can't show off your power, so a gentleman is cautious about independence." It means: don't let the slightest violation of the correct principle seem impregnable, so the gentleman who practices until the end will be very careful about his every thought and action.

Prudent independence is not the pursuit of being alone in space, but the pursuit of psychological and personality Excellence, which is different from external utilitarian purposes and pursues an internal spiritual realm.

To be "cautious and independent", the most important thing is to say that you are doing the same thing. People are the same as before, and their words and deeds are the same, and their hearts are the same. The most hidden things can often best reflect a person's quality, and the smallest things can best see a person's soul.

Sogou encyclopedia-a gentleman is cautious and independent

When a person is alone, he should be vigilant and cautious where no one is watching, especially when no one is listening, because improper desires are easy to show in obscure places and bad ideas are easy to show in subtle times, so a gentleman should be more strict with himself, beware of procrastination, and suppress improper desires and ideas in the bud.

It requires people to maintain caution and self-control, control improper passion, and consciously follow moral standards. Moral: The author is a gentleman who tries to awaken the Tao. He should carefully warn this avenue, even where people can't see it, and he can't neglect it for a while.

Even where others can't hear you, it's the same. In this way, whether in front of others or behind others, a gentleman who strives to cultivate his morality must always pay attention to his moral cultivation and not follow others' advice.

Otherwise, there will be no real progress in moral cultivation. "Don't look hidden" and "look" should be "present", that is, show.

Seeing is the external appearance, and hiding refers to the internal essence. "Cautious independence" means that when you are alone carefully, you pay attention to Tao through personal deliberate cultivation and conscious examination. In that dark place, although others can't see it, the Taoist priest should clearly realize that this is the easiest thing to find in the world.

Similarly, those subtle things are the easiest to find: because people's thoughts and actions will eventually be found no matter how they are concealed, and it is precisely because of this that a virtuous gentleman is particularly cautious about what he knows alone, even more cautious than in front of others. This is the real state of self-study.

"Being alone" is not important. What matters is that you can control yourself when you are alone. : the history of cautious independence and people's views. In Mawangdui silk book and Guodian bamboo slips "Five Elements", it is also said that "a gentleman is cautious and independent".

Liu Xiang's "On jing yuan Shen" said: "The good fortune of life and death depends on the body, and saints respect precepts rather than respect them." Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties directly used the word "cautious independence".

Zheng Xuan annotated The Doctrine of the Mean and interpreted "cautious independence" as "cautious independence". Mr. Liang Shuming believes that "Confucianism is only a cautious independence".

Zhu believes that "independence" is "a place that people don't know but only know." As the ancients said, "He who doesn't know honor or disgrace is also a man." .

In other words, only by knowing honor and disgrace, Zhi Zhi, can a person choose in his daily life, be sensible, conform to the norms and observe morality. It is not difficult to distinguish right from wrong and draw a clear line between good and evil, beauty and ugliness. What is difficult is "being cautious and independent".

Mr. Lu Xun said: "I do dissect others from time to time, but it is more and more ruthless to dissect myself." "The Doctrine of the Mean" says: "Don't be invisible, don't be insignificant, so a gentleman is cautious and independent."

That is to say: the most secret words and deeds can best show a person's quality, and the smallest things can best show a person's soul. "The Book of Rites" says: Those who have the least rites are the most expensive, and those who have the heart are also.

The causes of morality are also subtle. Nothing in the world can be said to be virtuous, so what is more important than less? Therefore, a gentleman is cautious and independent.

"Master Zhuangzi" said: After participating in Japan, you can go abroad; I have been out of the world, and I will keep it. After seven days, I can put my things outside. It's foreign, so I'll keep it and give birth outside in nine days. It has been born outside, and then you can see it; Go to the front and see independence; See independence and then there is no ancient and modern; There is no past or present, and then you can neither enter death nor life. Yang Zhenchuan: Wang Mi worked as a county magistrate in Changyi. He always made his own wishful thinking for his career advancement.

It happened that Yang Zhen, the new satrap sent by the imperial court, had some friendship with Wang Mi. Can this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity be missed? Wang Mi immediately ran to woo relations. He spared no expense, even openly bribed with ten catties of gold. Yang Zhen asked angrily, "An old friend knows a gentleman, but you don't know an old friend. Why? " Wang Mi replied without blushing: "At dusk, I am ignorant."

This means it's not in broad daylight. Who will know that I gave you a gift and collected money? Yang Zhen is both a gentleman and an honest official. How can he stand such an insult? Immediately sarcastically: "God knows, God knows, my son knows, and I know. What is ignorance? " "Zhan Zhan can't bully the sky", you have done an ugly thing that perverts the law. Not only is the law and discipline hard to tolerate, but even God will retaliate against you! Yang Zhen also won the nickname "Four Knowing Satrap"! .

What does a gentleman mean by being cautious and independent?

"Cautious independence" is not only a way of moral cultivation, but also a realm achieved through long-term cultivation.

It means that when a person is alone, unsupervised, and there are many possibilities of doing bad things, he can still strengthen his moral beliefs and consciously act according to certain moral principles without doing bad things. From The Book of Rites The Doctrine of the Mean: "Destiny is nature, frankness is Tao, and cultivation is teaching.

If you are a Taoist, you can't leave for a moment; You can stay, but you can't. So a gentleman is wary of what he can't see, and fear is almost unheard of.

Don't be invisible, don't be subtle, so a gentleman is cautious. The most fundamental principle endowed by heaven that governs the operation of all things is law, obeying the law is the correct principle, and practicing the correct principle is education.

All correct principles cannot be deviated for a moment; If there are deviations without criticism, it is not a truly correct principle. Therefore, Ming Dow people are always in a state of caution and fear where they can't smell or see, and don't let the slightest violation of correct principles appear. Therefore, a gentleman who practices until the end will be very careful about his thoughts and actions.

There is a word "expanding capital" in Confucian classics "The Doctrine of the Mean" and "The University", which is one of the Confucian moral concepts and self-cultivation methods and a very high realm. The doctrine of the mean emphasizes "cautious independence" and restrains improper behavior concepts through self-moral cultivation.

In "University", the moral standard of "cautious independence" has been pushed to a higher level. It is not only able to restrain bad thoughts and behaviors without supervision, but also to purify one's thoughts to no evil thoughts, consciously and voluntarily do good things without doing bad things, so that thoughts, beliefs and behaviors can be purely integrated. References:

Baidu encyclopedia-a gentleman is cautious.

What does the sentence "a gentleman is cautious about independence" mean?

It means: "cautious independence" is not only a way of moral cultivation, but also a realm achieved through long-term cultivation. It means that when a person is alone, unsupervised, and there are many possibilities of doing bad things, he can still strengthen his moral beliefs and consciously act according to certain moral principles without doing bad things.

From: The Book of Rites The Doctrine of the Mean

Original text: "If you are a Taoist, you can't leave for a moment; You can stay, but you can't. So a gentleman is wary of what he can't see, and fear is almost unheard of. Don't see it hidden, don't show it, so the gentleman is cautious. "

Note: all correct principles cannot be deviated for a moment; If there are deviations without criticism, it is not a truly correct principle. Therefore, Ming Dow people are always in a state of caution and fear where they can't smell or see, and don't let the slightest violation of correct principles appear. Therefore, a gentleman who practices until the end will be very careful about his thoughts and actions.

Extended data:

1, cautious independence is a feeling; Cautious independence is a kind of cultivation; Cautious independence is a kind of self-discipline; Cautious independence is a kind of magnanimity. Only by being cautious and independent can we put ourselves at a high level, a kind of loyalty and love for our cause.

2, that is, to care for your personality, you must first respect yourself. Respect and cherish the identity of * * *. When I was alone, I broke enough paper in my heart that "no one knows" and consciously linked my words and deeds with the reputation and image of the party. Focus on small things, start with details, and be honest.

The Origin of Gentleman's Independence and Caution

"If you are poor, you will be immune to it, and if you are up to it, you will help the world", quoted from Mencius. It turned out that "if you are poor, you will be immune to it, and if you are rich, you will help the world." Later generations changed "both goodness" to "both economy", without losing the original meaning of Mencius. In other words, when you are frustrated, you should lead an honest and clean life, cultivate one's morality, and when you are ambitious, you should benefit the people all over the world.

Poverty refers to being in adversity, being down and out, and being frustrated in life. Good health means good health, that is, making yourself more noble in moral cultivation. The so-called cultivation is nothing more than that. "Being poor means being immune to adversity", which means that you should be determined to forge ahead and pay more attention to the improvement of your own morality and ability.

Reach, that is, outstanding and developed. Helping the world, according to the present explanation, means caring for and donating to public welfare undertakings. If a person can still care about the world, the sufferings of others and benefit the people after he is rich, then he is a truly successful person.

The Doctrine of the Mean says: "Don't be invisible, don't be insignificant, so a gentleman is cautious and independent." This means that people should not think that they are well hidden, others don't know, and in fact there is nothing that can't be discovered; Although it is extremely subtle, there is nothing that is not revealed. This warns people that being in the world must be just and innocent. Don't think that you are confused just because others don't know. You should be very careful when you are alone.

The golden mean was originally an article in Xiao Dai's Book of Rites. The old saying The Doctrine of the Mean was written by Zisi. In fact, it is a Confucian work in the Qin and Han Dynasties, and it is also an important work of ancient Chinese educational theory.

A gentleman is cautious and independent. Please translate the following sentences.

In the original text, the nature of destiny is called (1), the nature is called Tao (2), and practice is called teaching.

Tao can't be separated for a moment, and non-Tao can be separated. So a gentleman is wary of what he can't see, and fear is almost unheard of.

Can't see it, don't show it (3). Therefore, a gentleman is cautious and independent.

There are no joys and sorrows called (4); The hair is in the middle (5), which is the sum. If you are in the middle, you are the biggest in the world; He who is harmonious achieves the way of the world.

To (6) neutralization, the position of heaven, and the education of all things. (Chapter 1) Note (1) Destiny: talent.

Zhu explained: "Heaven incarnates everything with Yin-Yang and Five Elements, with Qi as the shape and reason as the meaning and command." So the destiny (talent) here actually refers to people's natural endowment, and there is no mystery.

(2) Spontaneity: following nature, spontaneity, obedience and conformity; (3) Mo: Nothing here means "nothing is more ...". See (Xian): Obviously, obviously.

Hu: Yu, here is the meaning of comparison. (4) clock: in line.

(5) Section: Section and measurement. (6) realization.

Man's natural endowment is called "nature", acting according to nature is called "Tao", and practicing according to the principle of "Tao" is called "teaching". Tao can't leave for a moment. Walking is not the way.

Therefore, people with high moral character are cautious where no one sees them and afraid where no one hears them. The more hidden the place, the more obvious it is, and the more hidden it is.

Therefore, virtuous people are also cautious when they are alone. When emotions are not expressed, it is called "middle"; In line with the festival, it is called "harmony".

"Zhong" is everyone's nature; "Harmony" is the principle that everyone follows. In the realm of "neutralization", heaven and earth are in their proper places, and everything grows and multiplies. Reading this is the first chapter of the Doctrine of the Mean, which introduces the topic from the Tao, emphasizes the problem of "cautious independence" that universities have also expounded, and requires people to strengthen their consciousness, act sincerely according to their aptitude, and cultivate themselves according to reason.

After solving the above ideological problems, this chapter puts forward the category of "neutralization" (that is, the golden mean) and enters the whole theme. As one of the important categories of Confucianism, the "golden mean" has always had various understandings.

This chapter gives a positive and basic explanation of "zhong" and "he" from the emotional point of view. According to the meaning of this chapter, when a person has not shown emotions, his heart is calm and indifferent, so it is called "neutral", but emotions are inevitable for everyone and must be shown.

It is called "harmony" to show that it conforms to common sense and the golden mean. The harmony between the two is called "neutralization".

Everyone has reached the realm of "neutralization", everyone is calm, the social order is orderly, and the world will be peaceful. This chapter is full-text, and the following ten chapters (2- 1 1) are all around this chapter.

The Doctrine of the Mean was originally an article in the Book of Rites, and it is generally believed that it was written by Confucius' grandson Zisi (483- 402 BC). According to Historical Records Confucius Family, Confucius' son was named Kong Li and his real name was Apollo. Apollo's son is named Kong Ji.

After the death of Confucius, Confucianism was divided into eight schools, and Zi Si was one of them. Xunzi regarded Zisi and Mencius as one school.

Judging from the relationship between teachers and students, Zi Si studied under Confucius' proud disciple Ceng Zi, while Mencius studied under Zi Si. Judging from the basic viewpoints of The Doctrine of the Mean and Mencius, they are basically the same. Therefore, there is a saying of "Meng Si School".

Therefore, later generations respected the son as "telling the sage." However, the existing The Doctrine of the Mean was revised by Confucian scholars in Qin Dynasty, which was written roughly shortly after Qin unified the whole country.

Therefore, the way of famous articles has been the same as that of "University". Instead of taking the two words at the beginning of justice as the topic, the central content of the article is taken as the topic. As early as the Western Han Dynasty, there were works devoted to the interpretation of the Doctrine of the Mean. There were two works on the Doctrine of the Mean in History of Literature and Art, and there were many works on the Doctrine of the Mean in later generations.

But the most influential is Zhu's The Doctrine of the Mean, which he combined with The University, The Analects of Confucius and Mencius, making it one of the "Four Books" and a ladder for later scholars to seek fame. Zhu believes that the doctrine of the mean is "full of worries, far-reaching and detailed". "The book of the former saints, which was selected through experience, focuses on the dimension and significance, and there is no one who knows everything. )

(preface to The Doctrine of the Mean) And quoted Cheng Yi at the beginning of The Doctrine of the Mean, emphasizing that The Doctrine of the Mean is a work of Confucius to teach the mind, and that "six-dimensional books are released, but hidden when rolled", which is full of flavor and practical knowledge. People who are good at reading can enjoy life as long as they ponder carefully.

Cheng Yi's statement may be overdone, but The Doctrine of the Mean is indeed rich in content. It not only puts forward the doctrine of the mean as the highest moral standard of Confucianism, but also discusses a series of problems based on it, involving all aspects of Confucianism. Therefore, it is no accident that The Doctrine of the Mean is known as "practical learning" and regarded as a classic that can be used for life.

Hard to find! The translation of the full text can be found at this address: spaces.msn/members/zhuangao/.