Learn To Know

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By peace | December 6, 2007

The subjects on which the Master did not speak were extraordinary things, feats of strength, disorder, and spiritual beings.

Knowledge & Learning

Those who are born with the possession of knowledge are the highest class of men. Those who learn and readily attain knowledge are the next. Those who are dull and stupid, and yet encompass learning, are another class next to these. As to those who are dull and stupid and do not learn, they are the lowest of people.

The superior man has nine things he considers thoughtfully: to see clearly when he uses his eyes; to hear distinctly when he uses his ears; to look benign; to be respectful in his demeanor; to be sincere in his speech; to be reverent in his doing business; to ask advice when he has doubts; to think of consequences when he is angry; to think of righteousness when he sees gain to be gotten.

Contemplating good and pursuing it as if they could not reach it; contemplating evil and shrinking from it, as they would from thrusting their hands into boiling water — I have seen such men, as I have heard such words. Living in retirement to study their aims, and practicing righteousness to carry out their principles — I have heard those words, but I have not seen such men.

I have spent the whole day without eating, and the whole night without sleeping, occupied with thinking. It was of no use. The better plan is to learn.

Learn as if you could not reach your object, and were always afraid lest you should lose it.

I am not one who was born in possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.

The silent treasuring up of knowledge, learning without satiety, and instructing others without being wearied — these things belong to me.

When a man’s knowledge is sufficient to attain but his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold whatever he may have gained, he will lose again.

When his knowledge is sufficient to attain and his virtue enough to hold fast, if he cannot govern with dignity, the people will not respect him.

When his knowledge is sufficient to attain, when he has virtue enough to hold fast, and when he governs also with dignity, yet if he try to move the people contrary to the rules of propriety, full excellence is not reached.

Shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it — this is knowledge.

I do not open up the truth to one who is not eager to get knowledge, nor help out anyone who is not anxious to explain himself. When I have presented one corner of a square to anyone, and he cannot from it learn the other three, I do not repeat my lesson.

The Master said, “Yu, have you heard the six words to which are attached six obfuscations?”

Yu replied,”I have not.”

“Sit down,” said the Master, “and I will tell them to you. There is the love of being benevolent without the love of learning: the obfuscation leads to foolishness. There is the love of knowing without the love of learning: the obfuscation here leads to lack of principle. There is the love of being sincere without the love of learning: the obfuscation here leads to an injurious disregard of consequences. There is the love of straightforwardness without the love of learning: the obfuscation here leads to rudeness. There is the love of boldness without the love of learning: the obfuscation here leads to insubordination. There is the love of firmness without the love of learning: the obfuscation here leads to recklessness.”

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