The Analects of Confucius is one of the most influential books in history. One of the ways Confucius illustrated character was by contrasting the actions of "the superior man" with the actions of "the small man." Today, more than 2,500 years after these words were originally written, any man or woman can benefit from considering their own character in the light of the wisdom of Confucius.

1. Confucius on
Character
Joe Tye, Founder and CEO
Values Coach Inc.

2. The Analects of Confucius is a collection of
sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese
philosopher Confucius and his
contemporaries, traditionally believed to
have been written by Confucius' followers
during the Warring States period (475
BC–221 BC).
-Wikipedia

3. The Analects has been one of the most
widely read and studied books in China for
the last 2,000 years, and continues to have a
substantial influence on Chinese and East
Asian thought and values today.
-Wikipedia

4. Confucius believed that the welfare of a
country depended on the moral cultivation
of its people, beginning from the nation's
leadership.
-Wikipedia

5. He believed that individuals could begin to
cultivate an all-encompassing sense of virtue.
-Wikipedia

6. His primary goal in educating his students
was to produce ethically well-cultivated men
who would carry themselves with gravity,
speak correctly, and demonstrate
consummate integrity in all things.
-Wikipedia

7. From
The Analects

8. The superior man works to
develop the superior aspects of
his character.
The small man allows the
inferior aspects of his character
to flourish.

9. The superior man is easy to
serve but difficult to please.
The small man is difficult to
serve but easy to please.

10. The superior man can see a
question from all sides.
The small man can see it only
from his biased perspective.

11. The superior man calls attention
to the good points in others.
The small man calls attention to
their defects.

12. The superior man can influence
those who are above him.
The small man can influence
only those below him.

13. The demands that the superior
man makes are on himself.
The demands of the small man
are placed upon others.

14. The superior man is slow in
word but prompt in deed.
The small man is quick to make
promises but slow to keep them.

15. The superior man is diligent in
ascertaining what is right.
The small man is diligent in
ascertaining what will pay.

16. The superior man is calm and
at ease.
The small man is fretful and ill
at ease.

17. When things go wrong, the
superior man seeks blame in
himself.
When things go wrong, the
small man seeks blame in
others.

18. The small man thinks he is a
superior man.
The superior man knows he is a
small man.

19. In the presence of a superior
man, think all the time how
you might equal him.

20. In the presence of a small man,
evaluate your own character to
be sure you are not like him.

21. The superior man has the
quality of wind.
The small man has the quality
of grass.

22. When the wind blows, the grass
cannot help but to bend.

23. To see what is right and
not to do it is cowardice.

24. Other presentations in this series:
Talk to the person you will someday be
Remembering who you once were so
you can return
21 things to liberate yourself from
Adopting a dragon to kill resistance

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