Pleasure of meeting friends from afar

子曰:「學而時習之,不亦說乎?有朋自遠方來,不亦樂乎?
人不知而不慍,不亦君子乎?」

The Master said, “Isn’t it a pleasure to learn something and apply it regularly? Isn’t it happiness to have friends coming from afar? Isn’t it being a true gentleman not to feel vexed because nobody appreciates your abilities?” (Book 1:1)

Power of words

子曰:「不知命,無以為君子也。不知禮,無以立也。
不知言,無以知人也。」

The Master said, “If you don’t understand Destiny, you can’t be a true man. If you don’t know the Rules of Conduct, it is impossible to take a stand. If you don’t know words, it is impossible to know men.” (Book 20:3)

– from the opening verse and final verse of the Analects

Francis Chin, December 28, 2016

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