An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 937 words)
OOK IV. LE JIN.
CHAP. I. The Master said, 'It is virtuous manners which
constitute the excellence of a neighborhood. If a man in selecting a
residence, do not fix on one where such prevail, how can he be
wise?'
CHAP. II. The Master said, 'Those who are without virtue
cannot abide long either in a condition of poverty and hardship, or
in a condition of enjoyment. The virtuous rest in virtue; the wise
desire virtue.'
CHAP. III. The Master said, 'It is only the (truly) virtuous
man, who can love, or who can hate, others.'
CHAP. IV. The Master said, 'If the will be set on virtue, there
will be no practice of wickedness.'
CHAP. V. 1. The Master said, 'Riches and honours are what
men desire. If it cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should
not be held. Poverty and meanness are what men dislike. If it
cannot be avoided in the proper way, they should not be avoided.
2. 'If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil the
requirements of that name?
3. 'The superior man does not, even for the space of a single
meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it.
In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.'
CHAP. VI. 1. The Master said, 'I have not seen a person who
loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who
loved virtue, would esteem nothing above it. He who hated what is
not virtuous, would practise virtue in such a way that he would not
allow anything that is not virtuous to approach his person.
2. 'Is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue?
I have not seen the case in which his strength would be insufficient.
3. 'Should there possibly be any such case, I have not seen it.'
CHAP. VII. The Master said, 'The faults of men are
characteristic of the class to which they belong. By observing a
man's faults, it may be known that he is virtuous.'
CHAP. VIII. The Master said, 'If a man in the morning hear
the right way, he may die in the evening without regret.'
CHAP. IX. The Master said, 'A scholar, whose mind is set on
truth, and who is ashamed of bad clothes and bad food, is not fit to
be discoursed with.'
CHAP. X. The Master said, 'The superior man, in the world,
does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what
is right he will follow.'
CHAP. XI. The Master said, 'The superior man thinks of virtue;
the small man thinks of comfort. The superior man thinks of the
sanctions of law; the small man thinks of favours which he may
receive.'
CHAP. XII. The Master said: 'He who acts with a constant view
to his own advantage will be much murmured against.'
CHAP. XIII. The Master said, 'If a prince is able to govern his
kingdom with the complaisance proper to the rules of propriety,
what difficulty will he have? If he cannot govern it with that
complaisance, what has he to do with the rules of propriety?'
CHAP. XIV. The Master said, 'A man should say, I am not
concerned that I have no place, I am concerned how I may fit
myself for one. I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to
be worthy to be known.'
CHAP. XV. 1. The Master said, 'Shan, my doctrine is that of an
all-pervading unity.' The disciple Tsang replied, 'Yes.'
2. The Master went out, and the other disciples asked, saying,
'What do his words mean?' Tsang said, 'The doctrine of our master
is to be true to the principles of our nature and the benevolent
exercise of them to others,-- this and nothing more.'
CHAP. XVI. The Master said, 'The mind of the superior man is
conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is
conversant with gain.'
CHAP. XVII. The Master said, 'When we see men of worth, we
should think of equalling them; when we see men of a contrary
character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.'
CHAP. XVIII. The Master said, 'In serving his parents, a son
may remonstrate with them, but gently; when he sees that they do
not incline to follow his advice, he shows an increased degree of
reverence, but does not abandon his purpose; and should they
punish him, he does not allow himself to murmur.'
CHAP. XIX. The Master said, 'While his parents are alive, the
son may not go abroad to a distance. If he does go abroad, he must
have a fixed place to which he goes.'
CHAP. XX. The Master said, 'If the son for three years does not
alter from the way of his father, he may be called filial.'
CHAP. XXI. The Master said, 'The years of parents may by no
means not be kept in the memory, as an occasion at once for joy
and for fear.'
CHAP. XXII. The Master said, 'The reason why the ancients did
not readily give utterance to their words, was that they feared lest
their actions should not come up to them.'
CHAP. XXIII. The Master said, 'The cautious seldom err.'
CHAP. XXIV. The Master said, 'The superior man wishes to be
slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct.'
CHAP. XXV. The Master said, 'Virtue is not left to stand alone.
He who practises it will have neighbors.'
CHAP. XXVI. Tsze-yu said, 'In serving a prince, frequent
remonstrances lead to disgrace. Between friends, frequent reproofs
make the friendship distant.'
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
People unconsciously absorb the values and behaviors of those they spend time with, gradually becoming more like their environment unless they deliberately choose their influences.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize the subtle but powerful influence of your daily environment on your character and decision-making.
Practice This Today
This week, notice which coworkers or friends you spend the most time with and ask yourself: are their values pulling you toward the person you want to become or away from them?
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"It is virtuous manners which constitute the excellence of a neighborhood. If a man in selecting a residence, do not fix on one where such prevail, how can he be wise?"
Context: Opening advice about choosing where to live
Confucius argues that environment shapes character more than we realize. This isn't about finding perfect people, but about surrounding yourself with those who share your basic values about treating others right.
In Today's Words:
You become like the people around you, so choose your neighborhood - and your friends - carefully.
"Riches and honours are what men desire. If it cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held."
Context: Teaching about the tension between ambition and integrity
Acknowledges that wanting success is natural and normal, but insists that how you achieve it matters. Success gained through compromising your principles isn't really success at all.
In Today's Words:
Everyone wants money and recognition, but if you have to cheat or hurt people to get them, they're not worth having.
"The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue."
Context: Explaining how virtue becomes a constant habit
Emphasizes that integrity isn't a part-time job - it's about building character so strong that doing right becomes automatic in every small moment, not just the big decisions.
In Today's Words:
Good people don't take breaks from being good - they do the right thing even in tiny, everyday situations.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Confucius argues that virtue matters more than wealth or status—you can be poor with dignity or rich without honor
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might feel pressure to compromise your values for a promotion or financial gain
Identity
In This Chapter
Character is built through consistent small choices, not grand gestures—who you are shows up in daily habits
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You define yourself through how you handle routine moments when no one is watching
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
You can respectfully disagree with family or authority while maintaining relationships—boundaries without bitterness
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might struggle with standing your ground with parents or supervisors while keeping peace
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Real virtue becomes automatic through practice—building habits so strong that doing right requires no conscious effort
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You can train yourself to respond with integrity even under stress or time pressure
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Actions matter more than words—the ancients were careful with promises because they understood that talk is cheap
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You judge people by what they do consistently, not what they say they'll do
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Confucius says to choose your environment carefully because you become who you surround yourself with. What specific examples does he give of how environment shapes character?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Confucius focus on small daily choices rather than grand gestures when building virtue? What's the difference between these approaches?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about your current workplace, friend group, or family dynamics. Where do you see Confucius's pattern of gradual influence happening—either positively or negatively?
application • medium - 4
If you wanted to deliberately design your environment to support your goals, what three specific changes would you make to who you spend time with or what influences you consume?
application • deep - 5
Confucius suggests that real character shows up when no one's watching. What does this reveal about the difference between reputation and actual integrity?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Audit Your Environment's Influence
Create two lists: people or influences that elevate your standards and those that lower them. For each person/influence, write one specific behavior or attitude they model that you've noticed yourself adopting. Then identify one concrete change you could make this week to increase positive influences in your daily life.
Consider:
- •Include digital influences like social media accounts, podcasts, and news sources
- •Consider both obvious influences (close friends) and subtle ones (casual coworkers)
- •Focus on patterns of behavior, not personality judgments
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you realized you had unconsciously adopted the attitudes or behaviors of people around you. How did you recognize this shift, and what did you do about it?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 5: Reading People and Choosing Character
The next section introduces us to some of Confucius's most memorable students and colleagues, showing how these principles play out in real relationships and everyday situations.
