Analects-4 — Chapter 2
The Master said, "It is beautiful to live amidst Goodness. If you choose not to dwell among Good people, how can you become wise?"
The Master said, "Those who are not Good cannot long endure hardship, and cannot long enjoy happiness. Those who are Good are content with Goodness. The wise make use of Goodness."
The Master said, "Only the Good person is able to truly like others, and is able to truly dislike others."
The Master said, "If you set your heart on Goodness, you will be free of evil."
The Master said, "In the morning, hear the Way; in the evening, die content."
The Master said, "A gentleman is concerned with virtue; a petty person is concerned with land. A gentleman is concerned with the law; a petty person is concerned with favors."
The Master said, "When you see a worthy person, think about how you can equal him. When you see an unworthy person, reflect inwardly on yourself."
The Master said, "The gentleman desires to be slow in speech but quick in action."
The Master said, "Virtue is never solitary; it always has neighbors."
✦ Connected Across Traditions
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Hadith (An-Nawawi 13)
“None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
Leviticus 19:18
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mahabharata 5.1517
“One should never do to another what one regards as injurious to oneself.”
Good vs Evil / Light vs Darkness
Yasna 30:3
“Now the two primal Spirits, who reveal themselves as Twins, are the Better and the Bad, in thought and word and action.”
John 1:5
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Dhammapada 1:1-2
“Mind is the forerunner of all actions. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow.”
Genesis 1:3
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”