Phrases and sayings of Confucius - the Chinese sage

Высказывания Конфуция – знаменитого китайского sage and philosopher - known far beyond the Middle Kingdom. Many people who have not read not only the originals, but also translations of his creations, nevertheless believe that they know almost everything about him. “As the old Confucius said, the best new is the old,” claimed one of the Soviet poets. The fashion for so-called “Europeanized Confucianism” has not passed since the eighteenth century. But do we understand well enough the ideas of this philosopher? What do scholarly books say about him? Let's look at what contribution to the culture of humanity made the phrase Confucius.

Who was he?

Биография этого мудреца сама по себе может serve as an illustration of peculiar ethical stoicism. He came from a noble and glorious family, but the vicissitudes of fate turned the ancestors of the future philosopher into fugitives, forced to wander in a foreign land.

С детства он жил в бедности вместе с матерью, who told him about famous ancestors. He also tried to make a political career and educate the children of the nobility, but failed because of career rivalry and envy. Therefore, many of the later statements of the Chinese sage Confucius are devoted to ancient manners, which the philosopher idealized. He believed that in past epochs people were different. For example, they studied in order to cultivate themselves. But now they gnaw the granite of science to surprise others and show themselves, but in fact they are empty spaces.

About beauty

It is also believed that the world famousThe founder of the doctrine of the unity of ethics, politics and rituals was not very lucky with his appearance - he was tall, with a head of a strange shape and prone to completeness. Apparently, this was a great blow to him, because many Confucius phrases are devoted to the dichotomy between good and nobleness on the one hand, and a pleasant appearance on the other. "People with an attractive appearance are extremely rarely humane," he believed. In addition, sadly, many love beauty, while they should read good. After all, humanity (“jen”) is what the present is, due to us. And it depends on us whether it will turn into us or not.

Confucius: "Conversations and statements"

Just as from Socrates, from the Chinese philosopheralmost no original text has reached us, except for the chronicle of one of the regions of the country called “Spring and Autumn”. True, he is credited with authorship of many works, and even editing the famous books - "Songs" and "Changes". However, his students, who the philosopher had a huge amount of, made up after his death a collection called “Lunyu” (“Conversations and statements”), where the sage's political, social and ethical teachings are presented in the form of aphorisms and comments on them. This work can be called the holy book of followers of the philosopher, although his teachings are considered non-religious. He believed that a real scholar should not waste his time studying supernatural phenomena.

Sayings of Confucius about man

Какими должны быть люди по убеждению философа?A person who honors parents, loyal and loyal to power can become the basis of a harmonious society. But this is not enough. For real self-improvement, he must become a “noble husband.” Many characteristics of Confucius are devoted to the characterization of this type of personality. A person makes himself and is responsible for whether he will remain a savage or will follow a moral vocation. If he follows the principle of "jen", he will be guided by love for others and sympathy. However, he must understand the difference between what he is capable of and where

pass the limits of its capabilities, and in allkeep balance. A noble husband, as the philosopher believed, unlike a man of low, is serene and lives in harmony with others, but does not follow them blindly. He tries not to compete with others and not to conspire behind their backs. He may strive for wealth and fame, but only if all this can be achieved in an honest way. He blames himself for his mistakes and is able to admit them publicly. A noble husband is waiting for the opportunity to fulfill the will of Heaven and his duty, and a low person is only cowardly and fussy about success.

About nature and education

Confucius's many sayings are devotedhow exactly a natural man can "fashion" a decent man. We all, as the sage believed, have natural inclinations that bring us together. And now, according to acquired habits and customs, we are beginning to move away from each other. But here you need to keep balance. After all, if the natural inclinations prevail over human education, then nothing but a savage will come of it. And vice versa, in the case when the training completely eclipses the nature, you get a resonator and a scribe. Therefore, a true educated and noble person must strike a balance between natural and

acquired.However, teaching other people, it is not necessary to build illusions. It is necessary to work with those who can quite clearly speak out about the most intimate, and have enough imagination to see the angle of the square, to imagine the other three.

About debt

Confucius’s most colorful sayings describethe most valuable virtue for him. It is a duty to follow, without which no foundation of society is possible. No matter how noble a man is a man, he must fulfill precisely this moral duty. Since his duty is the path of truth, he needs to follow and not worry about anything else - neither about poverty, nor about food. To verify oneself, one should communicate only with virtuous people, and then much will fall into place. Lack of a sense of duty prevents a noble husband - without him he can become a rebel. To follow this difficult path, there are three ways. One of them is the noblest (these are reflections). The second, the easiest, is an imitation of a virtuous person. And the most bitter of them is their own experience.

Summing up his life, the philosopher notes that inIn his youth, he sought to study, at the age of thirty he became an independent person. When he turned forty, he left doubts. He understood duty and the will of Heaven at fifty. At sixty came the ability to distinguish between lies and truth. And already in extreme old age he began to follow the call of the heart. Such are the statements of Confucius - an amazing person who knows how to teach us from the depths of ages.