The Duke of Zhou (周公) is a legendary figure in Chinese history and Confucius’s hero for the pivotal role he played in unifying the country under the Zhou Dynasty (周朝) and putting the foundations in place for its social, economic, and cultural development while acting as regent until his nephew assumed the throne as King Cheng (周成王). Continue reading Historical figures in the Analects of Confucius: Duke of Zhou
Tag Archives: Analects of Confucius Book 7
Analects of Confucius Book 7: resources
Here is a list of resources covering Book 7 of the Analects of Confucius. You can click on the links below to learn more about the main themes of the book:
Analects of Confucius Book 7: translation
Here is a list of articles I have written about each chapter in the book. Again, click on the links to learn more. Continue reading Analects of Confucius Book 7: resources
Analects of Confucius Book 7: new English translation
Read this new English translation of the Analects of Confucius Book 7 to learn more about the teachings of China’s most famous philosopher. It provides a vivid portrait of the sage’s personality and motivations, as well as his opinions on various followers and other contemporary and historical figures.
Chapter 1
子曰：「述而不作，信而好古，竊比於我老彭。」
Confucius said: “I transmit but I don’t create. I am faithful to and love the past. In this respect, I dare to compare myself with Old Peng.”
Continue reading Analects of Confucius Book 7: new English translation
Leadership lessons from Confucius: gracious but serious
子溫而厲，威而不猛，恭而安。
Confucius was gracious but serious; commanding but not severe; respectful but at ease.
The problem with optimizing a single aspect of your behavior is that very quickly the law of diminishing returns will kick in and ultimately your efforts will backfire. Take graciousness as an example. Although it is of course important to be polite to people, if you take your politeness too far they will soon regard your behavior as fake or even a sign of weakness. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: gracious but serious
Leadership lessons from Confucius: calm and at ease
子曰：「君子坦蕩蕩，小人長戚戚。」
Confucius said: “A leader is calm and at ease; a petty person is anxious and on edge.”
Leadership is about being comfortable with yourself and confident in your ability to handle whatever comes flying at you in this rapidly changing world. At its base is a strong ethical foundation that enables you to lead a productive personal and family life and contribute to your community and society at large. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: calm and at ease
Leadership lessons from Confucius: the more you lean in one direction
子曰：「奢則不孫，儉則固。與其不孫也，寧固。」
Confucius said: “Just as extravagance leads to arrogance, frugality leads to meanness. It’s better to be mean rather than arrogant.”
The more you become accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle, the higher your expectations rise. A standard room in a five-star hotel’s no longer enough to satisfy you. You really need an elaborate suite with an awesome view of the beach to get a decent night’s sleep. After all, you deserve the very best, don’t you? You’re so much smarter and hard-working than the hoi-polloi. It’s about time you received the benefits you’re entitled to. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: the more you lean in one direction
Leadership lessons from Confucius: permission to pray
子疾病，子路請禱。子曰：「有諸？」子路對曰：「有之。誄曰：『禱爾于上下神祗』」子曰：「丘之禱久矣。」 (1)
When Confucius fell seriously ill, Zilu asked permission to pray. Confucius said: “Does such a practice exist?” Zilu replied: “Certainly. The liturgy says: ‘We pray to the spirits from above and the spirits from below.’” Confucius said: “If that’s the case, I’ve been praying for myself for a long time now.”
Is it appropriate to offer to pray for someone if they don’t share your religious beliefs? No doubt Zilu was so worried about his master’s condition that he was willing to try anything that might help him to stay alive, but Confucius clearly thought not and decided stuck to his own secular principles. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: permission to pray
Leadership lessons from Confucius: the best thing since sliced bread
子曰：「若聖與仁，則吾豈敢？抑為之不厭，誨人不倦，則可謂云爾已矣。」公西華曰：「正唯弟子不能學也。」
Confucius said: “How could I possibly dare to claim that I’m a man of great wisdom and goodness? All that can be said of me is that I never grow weary of learning and never get tired of teaching others.” Gongxi Chi said: “This is exactly what we students are unable to grasp.”
Better not to blow your own trumpet. If you’re anywhere near as good as you think you are, others will no doubt sing your praises. Just don’t let all the compliments go to your head, that’s all. Even if everyone else thinks that you’re the best thing since sliced bread, you know deep down that the moment you rest on your laurels complacency will set in and the downward slide will begin. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: the best thing since sliced bread
Leadership lessons from Confucius: room for improvement
子曰：「文，莫吾猶人也。躬行君子，則吾未之有得。」
Confucius said: “Although my commitment is as strong as anyone’s when it comes to cultural knowledge and refinement, I haven’t yet hit the target of becoming a true leader in how I conduct myself.”
No matter how accomplished and successful you are, there’s always room for improvement. That doesn’t mean that you should constantly beat yourself up for your inevitable failings, but that that you should be able to reflect calmly on them and take concrete steps to address them in the future. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: room for improvement
Leadership lessons from Confucius: joining in the harmony
子與人歌而善，必使反之，而後和之。
Whenever Confucius was together with other people who were singing and they sang a song well, he always asked them to repeat it before joining in the harmony.
There’s no need to intervene when your team is performing well. Sit back and enjoy the show. Observe how closely they work together and harmonize their goals and actions. Admire their creativity and talent as you listen to the music they’re playing. Continue reading Leadership lessons from Confucius: joining in the harmony