Confucius’s famous sayings about learning
Article 1: Learn and practice from time to time, isn’t it true?
Notes:
(1) Learn and practice from time to time - sometimes, all the time, often; practice, practice, review.
(2) Said - the same as "joy".
Translation: Confucius said, isn’t it also a pleasure to learn and review it frequently?
Comment: Here, Confucius mastered a very important learning rule. For some cultures that need to be kept in mind and deepened understanding, as well as some complicated cultures, it is not enough to read them once or twice. You must read, read, and memorize repeatedly, so that you can thoroughly understand and harmonize the culture you have learned. Deep memory.
Article 2: If a gentleman is not serious, he will not have authority, and if he is not learned, he will not be solid.
Note: "Heavy" means solemn, steady and down-to-earth. Translation: Confucius said that if a gentleman is not solemn, steady, and down-to-earth, he will have no dignity, and even if he learns culture, he will not be able to consolidate it.
Comments: A person who is not solemn, steady and down-to-earth will be impetuous and frivolous. Those who are impetuous and frivolous will naturally have no dignity in front of others, and naturally they will not be able to study well.
Article 3: Reviewing the past and learning the new can make you a teacher.
Translation: Confucius said that you can become a teacher by reviewing the old culture you have learned and discovering (creating) new culture. Comment: Relatively speaking, learning culture is easy but creating culture is difficult. Creating culture is to integrate the learned culture (of course it must be combined with the practice of social production and life), thereby generating new thoughts, new concepts, etc. This is certainly something remarkable. So Confucius believed that if you can reach this level, you can become a teacher.
Article 4: If you learn without thinking, you will be in vain; if you think without learning, you will be in danger.
Notes:
(1) 罔——Same as "Wang", confused.
(2) Almost - dangerous.
Translation: Confucius said that if you only read without thinking, you will fall into confusion and gain nothing; if you just think without reading, it is dangerous.
Comment: Confucius here wants people to combine learning and thinking. This article is related to "reviewing the past and learning the new". How to "learn new things" is to use our brains to think about problems. Of course, it is not just thinking in a vacuum, but integrating the knowledge learned and social practice into thinking. If you just learn without thinking, you will not gain anything new and you will not be able to create a new culture. But if we only think without learning, there will be no "culture medium" (the basic conditions for biological reproduction and growth in the laboratory), and without theoretical guidance, our thinking will often lose its goal. The result will be utopias, general thoughts, and even Falling astray.
Article 5: Knowing something is knowing it, and not knowing it is not knowing, which is knowing.
Translation: Confucius said, knowing means knowing, not knowing means not knowing. This is knowing.
Comment: This is Confucius’ warning to people that when seeking knowledge, they must have an honest attitude. If you don’t understand, you don’t understand. Don’t pretend to understand. The "knowledge" in "Yes Zhiye" does not mean knowing the culture that should be learned and mastered, but that as long as you have an honest attitude, you are not far from true "knowing".
Article 6: Hear the Tao in the morning and die in the evening.
Translation: Confucius said that if you know the truth (principle) in the morning, you can die at night.
Comment: From here, we see Confucius’ great spirit of learning and seeking knowledge. This spirit deserves to be carried forward and learned by future generations. Confucius regarded learning and seeking knowledge as a lifelong career. Although he is old and lacks energy, he still maintains this valuable spirit. The "Tao" here should be understood as the principles that a person wants to know.
Article 7: Be smart and eager to learn, and don’t be ashamed to ask questions.
Translation: Here, Confucius refers to a person who is smart and eager to learn, and does not feel ashamed to ask others below him.
Comment: This person refers to a person named Kong Wenzi. Zigong, a student of Confucius, asked Confucius: Why did Kong Wenzi give him the posthumous title of "Wen"? Confucius replied: He was smart and eager to learn, and he was not ashamed to ask questions about his subordinates, so he was given the posthumous title of "Wen". "If you hear the Tao in the morning, you will die in the evening" is a perseverance in learning attitude; "Sensitive and eager to learn, not ashamed to ask" is not only a positive learning attitude, but also a scientific method of seeking knowledge. It seems that there are many qualities that a person needs to possess to study and seek knowledge.
Article 8: Those who know are not as good as those who are good at it, and those who are good at it are not as good as those who are happy.
Notes:
(1) Good - like.
(2) A happy person - a person who feels happy to engage in some kind of knowledge.
Translation: Confucius said that for culture, those who understand it are not as good as those who like it, and those who like it are not as good as those who feel happy engaging in it.
Comment: Confucius is talking about the extent to which a seeker of knowledge is interested in studying a certain culture. If he takes it as pleasure, it has reached the level of obsession. This spirit of seeking knowledge exceeds the first two spirits. This spirit is the highest spirit of seeking peace. With this spirit of seeking knowledge, no matter how strong the fortress of learning is, it can be broken down.
Article 9: If you are above the middle person, you can speak well, but if you are below the middle person, you cannot speak well.
Translation: Confucius said that those who seek knowledge with above average intelligence can be taught more advanced knowledge, but those with below average intelligence should not be taught advanced knowledge.
Comment: Don’t mistakenly think that Confucius classified the educational objects here and looked down on the seekers of knowledge with lower intelligence. Among people, high and low intelligence exist objectively. Confucius put forward this educational point of view, teaching students in accordance with their aptitude, teaching students in accordance with their needs, and conducting education in a targeted manner. This is exactly the scientific education method advocated by Confucius.
Article 10: Be quick in matters but careful in words, slow in words but quick in deeds
Confucius’ famous saying. The words come from "The Analects of Confucius·Xueer": "Confucius said: 'A gentleman has nothing to eat to satisfy himself, and a place to live without seeking peace of mind. He is quick to do things but cautious in speaking.'" Also in "The Analects of Confucius·Li Ren": "A gentleman wants to be slow in speaking but is sensitive to words." Yu Xing". The meaning is the same. It means to be diligent and quick in doing things, but cautious in speaking. Zhu Xi's note: "Those who are quick at doing things will do what they can't do. Those who are cautious about speaking will not dare to use up all the rest." (Analects of Confucius) Another explanation: "Things are difficult to do, so you must be quick; words are easy to say, Therefore, we must be cautious." (Volume 22 of "Zhu Zi Yu Lei") In addition, there are Confucius' words in "Xunzi Zidao", "Han Shi Wai Zhuan", "Shuo Yuan·Miscellaneous Words" and other chapters, "Be careful when speaking." Wow" record. Quotes from Confucius. The words come from "The Analects of Confucius: Li Ren": "Confucius said: 'A gentleman wants to be slow in words and quick in deeds'". Bao Xian's note: "Naive means slow. The desire to speak is slow and the desire to act is fast." Zhu Xi cited Xie Liangzuo's note: "It is easy to speak, so the desire is slow; it is difficult to act hard, so the desire is quick." There are many synonyms in the Analects of Confucius. Sentences: "Be careful what you say, and you will have few regrets" ("Wei Zheng"), "The ancients did not say what they said, and they were ashamed to bow without catching it" ("Li Ren"), "A gentleman is ashamed of his words and goes beyond his actions" ("Li Ren") "Xian Wen"), etc., can all reflect Confucius' consistent thought of emphasizing conduct and caution in speech. See "Be sensitive to things but cautious in speaking."
Article 11: People without faith do not know what they are capable of. Confucius’ famous sayings.
The words come from "The Analects of Confucius·Wei Zheng": "Confucius said: 'If a person has no faith, he does not know what is possible.'" Zheng Xuan notes: "Those who do not know what is possible, what they say cannot be done." Kong Anguo's note: "If you don't believe what you say, the rest will be useless." Zhu Xi said: "If a person does not have a true and sincere heart, then everything he says is false." (Volume 24 of "Zhu Zi Yu Lei") The recent scholar Jiang Boqian distinguished between trust and belief in two meanings: "What you say must be true; what you say must be fulfilled." ("Yu Yi Guang Jie") Confucius and later Confucian scholars attached great importance to trust, and "loyalty in words and sincerity in deeds" ("The Analects of Confucius, Duke Wei Linggong") was the Confucian principle of life.
Article 12: If the people have no faith, they will not follow the famous sayings of Confucius.
The words come from "The Analects of Confucius·Yan Yuan": "Since ancient times, there has been death, and the people cannot stand without faith." This is Confucius's answer to Zigong's question about politics. The people's trust and sufficient food and soldiers are the policies of Confucius to govern and strengthen the country. However, you can remove soldiers and food, but you cannot make the people lose their trust; the people's trust is the foundation. This is similar to Confucius's sacrifice of one's life to achieve benevolence and Mencius's sacrifice of one's life for righteousness. Later Zhu Xi said: "The people will die without food, but the dead are inevitable. Without faith, even though you are alive, you will not be able to stand on your own, and it is not as good as death. Therefore, it is better to die than to break faith with the people, so that the people would rather die. Don’t break your trust with me.”
Article 13: Virtue is never alone, there must be a famous saying from Confucius.
The words come from "The Analects of Confucius·Li Ren": "Confucius said: 'Virtue is never alone, it must have neighbors.'"
Article 14: Listen to his words and observe his actions Confucius saying.
The words come from "The Analects of Confucius·Gong Yechang": "I govern day and night. Confucius said: 'Rotten wood cannot be carved, and a wall of dung soil cannot be built. How can I punish you?' Confucius said: 'Beginning When I teach people, I listen to their words and trust their actions.'" "Shuo Yuan Zun Xian" records that Confucius said: "The way to learn from others is to observe their words and then observe their actions... Therefore, first observe their actions. "Words are used to punish people's actions." "The Virtue of the Five Emperors": "The Master said: 'I want to win people by words, and I will change them.'" This is the meaning of this chapter. Zhu Xi cited Hu's note and said: Confucius said that listening to words and observing actions "is why he established a teaching to warn the disciples, so that they can be careful in speaking and quick in deeds." ("Analects of Confucius")
Fifteenth Article: Gentle and gentle, then the gentleman Confucius famous sayings.
The words come from "The Analects of Confucius·Yongye": "Confucius said: 'If quality is better than literature, then you will be wild; if literature is better than quality, you will be history; if literature is better than quality, then you will be a gentleman'." According to the meaning of the word, Wen, literary talent; quality, simplicity; Binbin, half-mixed appearance. Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty wrote in Annotations to the Analects of Confucius: "A scholar of eloquence should make up for what he has lost and make up for what he lacks. As for becoming virtuous, it happens unexpectedly." "The Analects of Justice" by Liu Baonan of the Qing Dynasty: "Etiquette has quality and writing. Quality is the foundation. Ritual has no foundation and cannot be established without writing. If it can be established and implemented, this is what it means." Confucius's words "wen" refer to The external manifestation of conforming to propriety; "quality" refers to the inner benevolence. Only by possessing the inner character of "benevolence" and being able to express it in conformity with "propriety" can one become a "gentleman". The relationship between literature and quality is the relationship between propriety and benevolence. One of them embodies the ideal personality of the "gentleman" that Confucius strives to advocate; the other reflects his consistent thought of the golden mean: that is, he does not advocate partiality over literature, nor does he advocate partiality over quality; when he is impartial, he should be impartial. It is not easy to do both, but it is not easy to do it to the extreme. "Confucius said: 'The quality of Yu Xia's writing is as good as the writing of Yin and Zhou Dynasty. The writing of Yu Xia is not as good as its quality; the quality of Yin and Zhou's writing is not as good as its writing. How can it be said that the writing quality is right?" (Book of Rites· Notes")
Article 16: Respect ghosts and gods and keep them at a distance from Confucius.
The words come from "The Analects of Confucius·Yongye": "Fan Chi asked about it, and Confucius said: 'The meaning of serving the people is to respect ghosts and gods and keep them at a distance, which can be said to be known.'" Zhu Xi’s note: “Concentrate your efforts on what is appropriate for human beings, and not be confused by the unknowable things of ghosts and gods. This is the matter of those who know.
" ("Analects of Confucius") Liu Baonan of the Qing Dynasty interpreted this sentence as: "It means to serve ghosts and gods with courtesy" ("Analects of Justice"). "Book of Rites·Biaoji": "The Master said: 'Xia Dao respects orders and serves ghosts. Respect gods and keep them at a distance, stay close to others but be loyal; people in the Yin Dynasty respected gods and led their people to serve gods, putting ghosts first and then being polite; people in Zhou respected gods but still gave them, and served ghosts while respecting gods but staying away from them, staying close to people but being loyal. " Combined with the above words of Confucius to Fan Chi, it can be seen that Confucius held a different view of ghosts and gods from the Xia merchants, and taught Fan Chi to follow Zhou Dao. On the premise of acknowledging the existence of ghosts and gods, Confucius also proposed that ghosts and gods should not be treated lightly or treated with disrespect. Closeness, which is different from the attitude of emphasizing on people first and ghosts and gods in daily life and social activities ("The Analects of Confucius·Advanced": "Ji Lu asked about ghosts and gods, Confucius said: 'If you can't serve people, how can you serve ghosts?'") Consistent.
Article 17: If you want to establish, you will establish people; if you want to achieve, you will reach people. Confucius' famous saying comes from "The Analects of Confucius·Yong Ye", Confucius answered Zigong's question. Ren said: "A benevolent person, if he wants to establish himself, he can establish others; if he wants to reach himself, he can reach others. If he can draw examples from close friends, this can be said to be the way of benevolence." "Zhu Xi's Commentary on the Analects of Confucius: "It is the heart of a benevolent person to treat oneself and others. Looking at it from this point of view, one can see that the laws of heaven are flowing around without any idleness. Ruan Yuan of the Qing Dynasty's "Sutra Study Room Collection": "Being tireless in doing it will help you achieve success; being tireless in teaching others will help you build others up." Those who are established are like "establishing at thirty"; those who are successful are like "you will be successful in your country and you will be successful at home". "This sentence still means that if you want to stand up, you must also make others stand up. If you want everything to work, you should also make everything work for others. This embodies the way of "forgiveness" advocated by Confucius, that is, Regarding the practical approaches and methods of "benevolence", the high standard of "forgiveness" is to do what you want to do to others, that is, to practice "benevolence" in a positive sense. Not to do evil, that is, practice "benevolence" in a negative sense (see "The Analects of Confucius·Yan Yuan": Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you), respect yourself and others, observe yourself and know others, that is, recognize the value of others, care about the survival and survival of others Development reflects the humanitarian characteristics of Confucius’ thoughts from another aspect.
Article 18: Tell without writing, and believe in the famous sayings of Confucius. "And": "Confucius said: 'Reciting without writing, trusting and loving the ancients, stealing and comparing with me, Lao Peng'." ""Hanshu·Rulinzhuan": Confucius "investigated the ancient and modern texts" to narrate "Book", call "Music", discuss "Poetry", because of Lu's "Spring and Autumn", and to read "Yi", "all because of the recent saints" To establish the teachings of the ancestors. Therefore, it is said that 'state without writing, believe in and love the ancients'". Zhu Xi's "Analects of Confucius": "Confucius deleted the "Poems", "Books", Dingli, Yu, praised the "Book of Changes", and revised the "Spring and Autumn", all of which were passed on to the ancestors. "Old, but nothing has been done". This sentence means that the old chapters are passed down without creating, and the ancient culture is both obedient and fond of. "Not writing" and "loving the ancients" are Confucius's summary of his lifelong teaching and academic research career. At the same time, it also reflects his principle of organizing historical and cultural heritage and his basic attitude towards ancient culture. Zhu Xi believes that Confucius "has done twice as much work as he has done" (ibid.). It is believed that Confucius actually wrote and stated.
Article 19: Know it silently, be tireless in learning, and never tire of teaching others.
The famous saying of Confucius comes from "The Analects of Confucius". : "Confucius said: 'I know things silently, I am not tired of learning, I am not tired of teaching others, what is that for me?" See also "Mencius Gongsun Chou": "Confucius said: 'I can't be sage, I am not tired of learning, but I can't teach. "Tired"; "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals" also records: "Confucius said: 'How can I be worthy of such praise! If you don't do it yourself, you will be eager to learn and never get tired of it, and be eager to teach but never tire of it.'" The sentence means: silently keep what you see and hear in your heart, study vigorously and never be satisfied, teach students tirelessly. "Analects of Confucius" by Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty: "Three of them are not the ultimate saint, but they still do not deserve it, which is a word of modesty and humility." Qian Mu, a recent scholar, believes that "this chapter may be regarded as a word of modesty, but it is not." " ("New Interpretation of the Analects of Confucius") Confucius mentioned three things here: First, the emphasis is on speech and knowledge (memory), not on speech and silence. The so-called "hear a lot, and keep it quality" ("Book of Rites·缁衣"), "If you hear more, you will choose the good ones and follow them; if you see more, you will recognize them" ("The Analects of Confucius"). The second and third words express Confucius's diligence in pursuing knowledge and his enthusiasm in teaching his disciples. At the same time, it is also a reasonable summary of Confucius’ understanding and methods of “learning” and “teaching”.
Article 20: Being rich and noble through unrighteousness is like a famous saying of Confucius.
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The words come from "The Analects of Confucius·Shu Er": "The Master said: 'If you eat sparingly, drink water, and bend your arms to rest on it, you will enjoy it; wealth and honor gained through unrighteousness are like floating clouds to me.'" Han Dynasty. Zheng Xuan's note: "Wealth and honor without righteousness are like floating clouds to me, and they are not my own." Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty's "Analects of Confucius": "He regards unjust wealth and honor as floating clouds and is indifferent to it. "Ye". Meaning: The wealth and official position that I have acquired through unjust means are like floating clouds in the sky to me. See also the same chapter of "The Analects of Confucius": "The Master said: 'Wealth can be sought after. Even though I am a man with a whip, I will also For it, if it is not possible to ask for it, do what I like'"; "The Analects of Confucius: Li Ren": "Confucius said: 'Wealth and honor are what people want, if they do not follow the way to get them, they will not be able to get them'". Confucius in This reaffirms his specific principles for viewing and seeking wealth, which must be consistent with "righteousness" and "benevolence". If he violates this, it will be regarded as a passing smoke and is not worth it. Life attitude and mind.