This chapter has been published in the book CONFUCIUS AND SOCRATES Teaching Wisdom. For ordering information, please click here.
Although we examined the major events in Confucius' life in
the first chapter, it may be useful to reflect briefly at this
point on how well he lived up to what he taught. If wisdom is
both knowledge and action, then words alone are not sufficient
evidence that he was a wise man. Moreover if he was to be an effective
teacher of wisdom, then his students certainly would have looked
to see if he actually practiced what he preached. The first two
chapters looked at Confucius as an exemplar of wisdom, and in
this chapter we shall briefly explore whether he lived according
to the specific precepts which he taught.
This idea of not allowing one's words to outrun one's deeds was
actually one of Confucius' own fundamental principles. Confucius
even in his time considered this to be an ancient axiom. "The
reason why the ancients did not readily give utterance to their
words, was that they were afraid that their actions might not
come up to them."1 Confucius knew that words were cheap,
and so he recommended the following method for keeping one's speech
in line with one's deeds. Zigong had asked about the better person,
and Confucius said, "He acts before he speaks and then speaks
according to his action."2 This is a sure way of keeping
the words accurate to the actual accomplishments. Confucius was
aware of hypocrisy and warned against it. "A person with
clever words and pretentious manner is seldom good."3 With
Confucius we find that although he had many wise things to say,
he rarely made claims about himself, especially in The
Analects, the earliest source. Many later Confucians made
extravagant claims on behalf of their master, changing history
to legend and even myth.
Confucius was described in The Analects as having no egotism,
and although he preached much, it usually was as an impersonal
ideal which anyone could learn to follow. He did not say they
should emulate him; he did not even tell them what to do. He merely
pointed out what would be the consequences of various motivations
and actions, and then let his listeners decide. At one point while
reciting the Way of the better person, he admitted that he had
not attained it. However, his disciples probably disagreed.
Confucius said, "The Way of the better person is threefold.
I myself have met with success in none of them.
For one who is really good is never unhappy,
one who is really wise is never perplexed,
and one who is really brave is never afraid."Zigong said, "Master, that is what you yourself say."4
Confucius was aware of his own limitations and that he certainly
could do better in each of these aspects. Yet these are all relative,
and as compared to others Confucius exhibited a remarkable joy
even though he was not recognized by many, showed courage and
lack of fear in his travels, and rarely was he confused by any
question put to him. He said "I am not concerned that I have
no office; I am only concerned how I may make myself qualified
for one. I am not concerned that I am not recognized; I seek to
be worthy of recognition."5
Even though Confucius was not in office, he was ready at any
time to put his principles into practice if he was given an ethical
opportunity. There was a conversation in which Zigong described
a precious jewel and asked whether he should wrap it up and keep
it in a box or see if he could get a good price for it. Confucius
replied, "Sell it! Most certainly sell it! I myself am one
who is waiting for an offer."6
In his travels Confucius put forth great effort to put into practice
his ideas, but he also showed by refusing to cooperate with unjust
government that he lived up to his ethical ideals. He also showed
his strength of character in enduring hardships. The following
incident illustrates these points:
Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about military strategy.
Confucius replied, "About the ordering of ritual vessels
I have some knowledge, but I have not studied warfare."
The next day he resumed his travels.
In Chen supplies fell short,
and his followers became so weak
that they could not drag themselves on to their feet.Zilu came to the master and said indignantly, "Is it right
that even better people should be reduced to such straits?"Confucius said, "A better person can withstand want;
it is only the lesser person who is swept away by it."7
Confucius' definition of a great minister made clear why he was not often in political service. The following conversation also indicates his attitude toward two of his disciples' ability in government.
Ji Ziran asked whether Zilu and Ran Qiu
could be called great ministers.
Confucius said, "I thought you were going to ask
some really interesting question; and it is only about Yu and Qiu.
What I call a great minister is one who will only serve his prince
while he can do so without infringement of the Way,
and as soon as this is impossible, resigns.
But in this present case, so far as concerns Yu and Qiu,
I should merely call them stop-gap ministers."Ziran said, "So you think they would merely do
what they were told?"Confucius said, "If called upon to slay their father or their prince,
even they would refuse."8
In other words, Confucius did not tend to over-rate his own
students nor think they were completely incapable either. Confucius
believed the art of government was a skill of correcting people.
Therefore it was fundamental for the leader to be correct. "To
govern means to rectify. If you lead with correctness, who will
dare not to be correct?"9 Therefore, he could not allow himself
to participate in a government which was not correct.
From the evidence we have, Confucius appeared to have acted in
harmony with the Way he preached. He said,
Wealth and honor are what every man desires.
But if they have been obtained in violation of the Way,
they must not be kept.
Poverty and humble station are what every man dislikes.
But if they can be avoided only in violation of the Way,
they must not be avoided.
If a better person departs from goodness,
how can one fulfill that name?
A better person never abandons goodness
even for the lapse of a single meal.
In moments of haste, one acts according to it.
In times of difficulty or confusion, one acts according to it.10
We find Confucius accepting humble circumstances gladly rather than give up his principles. He said, "With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and with a bent arm for a pillow, there is still joy. Wealth and honor obtained through injustice are as remote from me as the clouds that float above."11 Even so, Confucius did not find much joy in bodily pleasures but rather in loving learning and following the Way.
A better person does not seek
gratification of one's appetite nor comfort in one's lodging.
One is diligent in one's duties and careful in one's speech.
One associates with those who follow the Way
so that one may correct one's own faults.
Such a person may be said to love learning.12
Learning and teaching were the major pursuits of Confucius'
life. His diligence in these activities indicates that he conscientiously
followed what he recommended to others. Ran Qiu once asked Confucius
what should be done next for a population which had multiplied.
The master counted the next step to be to enrich them. Ran Qiu
then asked for the step after that. Confucius said, "Instruct
them."13 This was his role, though he knew that people must
have the necessities of life first.
What are the qualifications for a teacher? Confucius felt he
must have knowledge of the past and apply it in the present for
the future. "Whoever can make the old come alive to gain
knowledge of what is new is able to teach others."14 Due
to his extensive knowledge of the classics and past history and
traditions while constantly endeavoring to apply these ancient
principles to contemporary situations, Confucius showed himself
to meet this requirement as well as anyone we could name.
Although Confucius was capable of various actions, he was always
striving for the best action possible. For example, he said, "I
could try a civil suit as well as anyone, but it would be better
still to bring it about so that there are no civil suits!"15
As a teacher of the principles of wisdom, Confucius made an easy
target for criticism and satire, especially since he was not in
a prestigious position of the government. In fact a couple of
centuries later Confucius was extensively ridiculed by the Daoist
mystic Zhuang-zi, who satirized him as a busy-body reformer. However,
these were caricatures to show how the mystical transcends social
ethics. There is an incident recorded in The Analects of
a rustic who criticized Confucius for not having any specific
accomplishments. The master faced the charge with a sense of humor.
A villager from Daxiang said, "Confucius is no doubt
a very great man and vastly learned.
But he does not bear out his reputation by any particular thing."Confucius hearing of it, said to his disciples,
"What shall I take up? Shall I take up chariot-driving?
Or shall it be archery? I think I will take up driving!"16
Confucius was naturally concerned more with the development
of the whole person than with one particular skill.
In one sense, maybe Confucius never really got the chance to
demonstrate his wisdom and apply his principles. Yet this was
not his fault but rather because of the moral conditions of the
times. We can only examine how he faced the challenges of his
life; although he never was successful in government, he did gain
the respect of many disciples. As a final, pragmatic evaluation
of his teaching, then, we must examine the effect he had on his
students.
1. Analects 4:22.
2. An. 2:13.
3. An. 1:3.
4. An. 14:30.
5. An. 4:14.
6. An. 9:12.
7. An. 15:1.
8. An. 11:23.
9. An. 12:17.
10. An. 4:5.
11. An. 7:15.
12. An. 1:14.
13. An. 13:9.
14. An. 2:11.
15. An. 12:13.
16. An. 9:2.
This chapter has been published in the book CONFUCIUS AND SOCRATES Teaching Wisdom. For ordering information, please click here.
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