Zhongyong – The Doctrine of the Mean

Confucius' grandson comments about the Way and human nature. Tr. Legge (en)

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II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI
XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX XXXI XXXII
XXXIII

XX. On government: showing principally how it depends on the character of the officers administering it, and how that depends on the character of the sovereign himself.

Zhongyong XX. 8.

"The duties of universal obligation are five, and the virtues wherewith they are practiced are three. The duties are those between sovereign and minister, between father and son, between husband and wife, between elder brother and younger, and those belonging to the intercourse of friends. Those five are the duties of universal obligation. Knowledge, magnanimity, and energy, these three, are the virtues universally binding. And the means by which they carry the duties into practice is singleness.

Legge XX.8.

对此，有的人生下来就懂得，有的人学习了便懂得，有的人在遇到困难时才想方设法懂得，到了懂得时，那效果是同样的。有的人安心去这样子，不这样干就于心不安；有的人认为这样对他有长远利益，便这样干；有的人迫于环境才勉强这样干，干成功了，那结果也是同样的。”

白话翻译

Zhongyong XX. 8.