Great Men

BY | 09-07-2017
(Chinese Social Sciences Today)

君使臣以礼,臣事君以忠
A king should employ his ministers according to the rules of propriety, ministers should serve their king with loyalty.
The phrase is commonly used in reference to relationships between superiors and subordinates.

 

君虽尊,以白为黑,臣不能听;父虽亲,以黑为白,子不能从
Even though a sovereign is very powerful, if he takes white for black, the court officials should not agree with him unquestioningly; even though the father is the closest relative, if he takes black for white, the son should not agree with him unquestioningly.
The saying indicates that loyalty should have limits.

 

君子不以其所以养人者害人
A ruler does not injure his people with that wherewith he nourishes them.
The phrase indicates that a good ruler must be careful to ensure that the things that should benefit the people do not instead harm them.

 

君子食无求饱,居无求安,敏于事而慎于言
He who aims to be a man of complete virtue, in his food does not seek to gratify his appetite, not in his dwelling-place does he seek the appliance of ease; he is earnest in what he is doing, and careful in his speech.
This phrase comes from The Analects of Confucius and defines the proper behavior for a man.

 

君子引而不发,跃如也
The superior man draws the bow, but does not discharge the arrow. The whole thing seems to leap before the learner.
The phrase is used metaphorically to mean that one should be fully prepared and wait for the right time to take action.

 

君子忧道不忧贫
The superior man is anxious lest he should not get truth; he is not anxious lest poverty should come upon him.
This phrase also comes from The Analects of Confucius and indicates that seeking truth ought to be above material gain.