Confucius commented on Zi Chan and said, "He has four virtues as a gentleman: solemn behavior, respect for the monarch, benefiting the people and using it for the people."
We don't have to delve into whether Zi Chan has these four kinds of gentlemen's morality. I think Confucius is only here to expound his own standards of gentleman's moral cultivation by evaluating his own property. Judging from these four contents, it seems to be the standard for judging the ruling party, which may have been a relatively high requirement at that time, but according to today's standards, it is far from enough to only achieve these four points. In particular, the requirements of the monarch should be spurned, because the requirements of the times for today's rulers should first respect and serve the people, not just the superiors.
2. The original and translation of The Way of a Gentleman
The way of a gentleman is hidden. The stupidity of a couple can be related to knowing, and more importantly, although the saints don't know. Couples can do whatever they want, but even saints can't do whatever they want. People are still lamenting the vastness of heaven and earth. Therefore, the language of a gentleman is big, and the world can't carry it; If it is small, the world can't be broken. The poem says, "The kite flies in the sky and the fish jumps in Yu Yuan." Look from top to bottom. A gentleman's way, nature makes people, and even observes what is going on in the world. (Chapter 12)
translate
The way of a gentleman is profound. Although ordinary men and women are ignorant, they can also know the way of a gentleman; However, even a saint can't think of its highest state. Although ordinary men and women are not wise, they can be gentlemen, but even saints can't do it. The land is so big that people are still not satisfied. Therefore, the gentleman talks about "big", so big that even the whole world can't hold it; When a gentleman says "small", he is too small to be separated. The Book of Songs says: "Kites fly to the sky, and fish jump into the deep water." This means a clear distinction between the upper and lower levels. The way of a gentleman begins with ordinary people, but its highest and deepest realm is known all over the world.
It's useless to listen to a gentleman, and it's useless to listen to a villain. Listening to a gentleman's words is useless. Lu Zhi's "On Talents" is selected from the original text: Everyone is talented, each has his own strengths, and there must be some shortcomings. If they learn from each other, someone will need everything in the world; If we are short-staffed, we will abandon the world. You love and hate them, and you have similarities and differences in interests. If you are as holy as Iraq and Zhou, and as wise as Mo and Yang, who can avoid ridicule? Yesterday, Zi Gong asked Confucius, "What about all the villagers?" Confucius said, "There is nothing I can do." "What if all the villagers hate it?" Confucius said, "No way. Not as good as a good person, not as good as a bad person. " A gentleman's evil intentions will do the opposite, and he will be as evil as a gentleman's evil villain. He will observe his feelings and listen to the gentleman on the basis of the trial, and the virtue of the gentleman will be abolished. Since ancient times, people seldom (some people) have all their talents and virtues. If we hire strengths, then there is no one in the world who can be hired. Coupled with love and hate, the interests are different. If there are wise men like Yi Yin and Duke Zhou and wise men like Mo Zhai, who can avoid being laughed at? Once upon a time, Zigong asked Confucius, "Everyone in a village likes it. What should I do? " Confucius said, "I'm not sure." What if everyone in a village hates it? "I'm not sure'' is not as good as those who like to take office in rural areas. If they don't like it, they hate him. " That's because good people and bad people must behave differently, just as bad people hate gentlemen just as good people hate bad people. We should seriously investigate the truth. If we listen to the gentleman, then the villain will give up. If we listen to him, then the gentleman will give up.
The way of a gentleman is nothing more than advocating loyalty and being a gentleman for the world, and "advocating loyalty and righteousness for the world" is the greatest.
In the era of secular corruption, the whole society can't control its own delusions and greed. People cheat each other and intrigue against each other, hurting others for their own happiness, unwilling to bear any difficulties and losses, and unwilling to make any contribution to saving the world.
Until one day, a loyal person appeared and tried to change all this. He can restrain his own desires, be kind to others, abandon hypocrisy and deception, and advocate tolerance and dedication. I have suffered great physical and mental difficulties, but I have never driven others to share with me, but I have always been generous in my dedication to others, treating money as something that has nothing to do with me, just like going home from a long trip. So everyone imitated his practice and thought they were ashamed to live and escape from difficulties.
Loyalty, seemingly clumsy, is the foundation of being a man.
Loyalty, that is, no two, that is, no mistake.
Honesty is kindness and generosity.
Naive, persistent, kind and generous.
Loyalty is the foundation of this gentleman.