Page:The sayings of Confucius; a new translation of the greater part of the Confucian analects (IA sayingsofconfuci00confiala).pdf/67

 private life you will excite no ill-will. Chung Kung said: Though I am not quick in thought or act, I will make it my business to carry out this precept.

Ssǔ-ma Niu inquired as to the meaning of true goodness. The Master said: The truly good man is slow of speech. —Slowness of speech! Is this what goodness consists in?—The Master said Does not the difficulty of deciding what it is right to do necessarily imply slowness to speak?

Ssǔ-ma Niu asked for a definition of the princely man. The Master said: The princely man is one who knows neither grief nor fear.—Absence of grief and fear! Is this the mark of a princely man?—The Master said: If on searching his heart he finds no guilt, why should he grieve? of what should he be afraid?

Tzǔ Chang asked how to attain exalted virtue.…The Master said: Make conscientiousness and truth your guiding principles, and thus pass on to the cultivation duty to your neighbour. This is exalted virtue.