Quotes, Quotations and Sayings

This passage appears in the section on studying and learning. By saying this Confucius means that clothes should not be important to scholar, knowledge and truth is what one should worry about. He also means that a person who worries about such materialistic things is not interesting and not worth to talk to. To Confucius truth and knowledge are really important and while trying to learn, one should not worry about anything materialistic, any surroundings.

I absolutely agree with Confucius on this. Scholar should have the main desire-to learn about the truth. First of all, a real scholar needs to do everything in order to improve oneself for the better. That means put effort and try to find, study and if needed change oneself. In some cases that might mean that there is going to be a need to put aside the opinion one has developed already and be open for changes. Second, scholar a scholar that pays more attention to such things as old clothes and plain food and does not devote all the energy to learn is simply not very interesting. Why talk to such person if there is nothing new one can learn?

Life is constant learning: never too late never too much. True scholar does not waste energy being ashamed of old clothes and plain food. True scholar goes much deeper and tries to find the way to improvement by devoting oneself to learning and finding the path to truth.

This passage comes from the section on descriptions of Confucius. In this passage Confucius talks about two absolutely different types of people. First, the ones that don’t want and don’t feel the need for knowledge and second, the ones that like to learn, try to learn and are careful in making decision, otherwise “measure ten times before cutting.” His opinion is that it is not really clever to act without knowledge and just go with the flow. This eastern philosopher states that it is very important to listen carefully to what is being said and to choose if that is good. To Confucius it is also very important to study and remember everything learned.

I absolutely agree on this with Confucius. One should not just follow anybody without first listening carefully to what is said. Not everything and not always what is said is good or truth. All humans have different morals .All humans are absolutely different, have different understanding of what is good and what is bad .To me people that act without knowledge are ignorant, lazy and boring. It is really important and not easy at all to learn to listen and make decisions. 

In conclusion, one should always think and make decisions for himself/herself. In order to make right decisions one needs to be intelligent enough and that means study hard and remember what’s learned.

This passage comes from the section on the love of truth. Confucius has laid great emphasis on the love and guest of truth. He said that the only objective of the superior man is truth. For him the superior man in all things considers righteousness essential and the first and foremost requisite of his being. The superior man will always look for the cause of righteousness and virtue while the ordinary man strive for selfish gains. The virtuous and perfected person does only what is right, which leads to the proper way to live otherwise known as Tao. The enlightened person possesses sincerity, honesty, humility, and respect.

I personally do not agree with many analects of truths and righteousness because truth is relative term and in the modern world the interests of both person and society has changed. A pragmatic person will first look for his own benefits and will never take heed to those obsolete teachings of the past ages. This is in reality the practice of the present day in which the mind of superior man is conversant with gains, and the mind of ordinary man is conversant with righteousness.

I think we should follow the philosophy and practice of the present say in order to keep pace with the progress and changes in the world and can sustain our position and status. This is known as prudence in today’s world.

This passage comes form the section on studying and learning. For Confucius every man should learn throughout his life in order to know his real essence of his own virtues. One must seek in oneself that he has all the attributes and qualities which can make one the superior man. Confucius emphasized that a person must acquire sufficient knowledge, which should make one independent of any external help. A self-sufficient and informed person will depend on his/her own judgment and decisions, as one will have an analytical and reflective mind.

A don’t agree with Confucius ideology of self-sufficiency. Humans are imperfect, though they always try to be perfect. Humans may not be perfect analysts of the matters and affairs they confront in life. They are dependent on society and should regard other opinions as valuable. The morale of self-sufficiency undermines and disregards other opinions and views. I don’t agree with Confucius that superior man should always place too high estimate only upon his own thinking. I think that a wise man will also give consideration to views of others for better understanding of life’s stresses and strains.