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If one were able to perfect his filial piety and attention to fraternal duties, he would move the gods and divinities
in heaven and earth, and will reach to the spiritual intelligence. The light of his great virtue would illuminate the
whole world and all would be touched by the virtues of filial piety. Scroll 9: Xiao Jing
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Confucius said: “The faithfulness that a superior person has shown in serving his parents can be applied to
serving his leader; the reverence that he holds in serving his elder siblings can be applied to serving his
superior; the well-regulated operation of his family can be applied to good government in any official position.
Therefore, when a person is accustomed to filial and fraternal duties at home, he can venture to start a career
and establish his name with future generations.” Scroll 9: Xiao Jing
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There are three kinds of approach that an official can take to fulfill his duties: Prevent, Rectify, and Reprimand.
“Prevent” involves taking precautionary measures to prevent mistakes from happening. “Rectify” involves
rectifying mistakes that have been done. “Reprimand” involves giving direct reprimands to the perpetrators.
Among the three, “Prevent” is the best approach; followed by “Rectify”; then by “Reprimand”. Scroll 46: Shen Jian
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Confucius said: “If you want others to have confidence in you, you should speak little and carry out your words.
Your actions will speak for themselves. After a period of time, the results become so evident that no one else
could distort the truth from the eyes and ears of the public.”
Scroll 46: Zhong Lun
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The practice of using propriety to govern a country existed a long time ago, perhaps as far back as the
beginning of heaven and earth. If a ruler is kind and virtuous, his ministers will serve him with great reverence.
If parents are kind, their children will be filial. If elder siblings treat their younger siblings with fraternal love, the
younger brothers will in return treat them with respect. If a husband is kind, the wife will be gentle. If a mother-
in-law is caring, the daughter-in-law will be obedient. These are all the essential attributes of propriety.Scroll 6: Chun Qiu Zuo Shi Zhuan, Vol. 3
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If there is one word that you should hold permanently to your heart, it is this word, Shu —“ What you do not
want done to yourself, do not do to others.” If there is one standard of conduct that you should always
exemplify, it is this, Zheng —“Integrity”. Shu is the practice that leads to benevolence, and Zheng is the key to
righteousness.Scroll 46: Shen Jian
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When people do not have a sense of shame, they cannot be made to obey the law. If propriety is not practised,
their sense of shame cannot be established. Not even the law can make people correct their behaviour if the
populace does not understand the purpose of propriety. People will not look up to propriety if the government
fails to promote good deeds and eliminate bad behaviour.
Scroll 41: Huai Nan Zi
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A superior person can work on earning respect, but he cannot expect others to respect him. He can work on
being trustworthy but he cannot expect others to trust him. He can be worthy of appointment to a post but he
cannot expect the post to be given to him. Therefore, a superior person is ashamed of not being a man of
character but he is not ashamed of being insulted. He is ashamed of breaking his promise but he is not
ashamed of being distrusted. He is ashamed of being unskillful but he is not ashamed of missing the chance to
get appointed. In short, he is not tempted by superficial reputation, or intimidated by slanders. He is honourable
and upright, unwavering in his convictions. Scroll 38: Sun Qing Zi
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Zizhang asked Confucius about the principle of benevolence. Confucius said: “If you can practise five types of
moral conduct in the world, then you can be considered a benevolent person.” Zizhang then asked: “Please
tell me which five?” Confucius replied: “Be respectful, tolerant, trustworthy, perceptive, and kind. Respect
others and you will not be insulted. Treat people with tolerance and you will gain their support. Be trustworthy
and people will have faith in you. Do things perceptively and you will achieve success. Offer kindness to others
and they will serve you with gratitude.” Scroll 9: Lun Yu
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Confucius said: “A good student is dutiful to the parents at home, and respects elders and superiors while
away from home. He is cautious in doing things, trustworthy, loving all equally, and close to wise and virtuous
people. In addition, he needs to further study the literatures passed down from the ancient sages and learned
scholars.”Scroll 9: Lun Yu
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Heaven in its motions preserves great harmony in union, enabling all creations to be peaceful and beneficial,
and perpetually correct and firm. Heaven creates all things on the earth, and made every place under it serene
and tranquil. Respected leaders in the myriad states follow the virtuous attributes of heaven so they shall run
their respective states in stable peace.Scroll 1: Zhou Yi
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The sage-rulers of ancient times placed justice as a priority in governing. When governing was done without
selfish motives, peace and harmony could be achieved.Scroll 39: Lü Shi Chun Qiu