Topics · Love & People
Wisdom about character & integrity.
What people have learned about character & integrity the hard way, and what the classics said about it first.
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From the library
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.
Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
When these two do not injuriously affect each other, their good influences converge in the virtue (of the Tao).
Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
Favour and disgrace would seem equally to be feared; honour and great calamity, to be regarded as personal conditions (of the same kind).
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
(Its) admirable words can purchase honour; (its) admirable deeds can raise their performer above others. Even men who are not good are not abandoned by it.
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
What men dislike is to be orphans, to have little virtue, to be as carriages without naves; and yet these are the designations which kings and princes use for themselves. So it is that some things are increased by being diminished, and others are diminished by being increased.
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
All things are produced by the Tao, and nourished by its outflowing operation. They receive their forms according to the nature of each, and are completed according to the circumstances of their condition. Therefore all things without exception honour the Tao, and exalt its outflowing operation.
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a vessel of the highest honour. Now-a-days they give up gentleness and are all for being bold; economy, and are all for being liberal; the hindmost place, and seek only to be foremost;—(of all which the end is) death.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Therefore the man of skill is a master (to be looked up to) by him who has not the skill; and he who has not the skill is the helper of (the reputation of) him who has the skill. If the one did not honour his master, and the other did not rejoice in his helper, an (observer), though intelligent, might greatly err about them. This is called 'The utmost degree of mystery.'
The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
Thus it is that dignity finds its (firm) root in its (previous) meanness, and what is lofty finds its stability in the lowness (from which it rises). Hence princes and kings call themselves 'Orphans,' 'Men of small virtue,' and as 'Carriages without a nave.' Is not this an acknowledgment that in their considering themselves mean they see the foundation of their dignity? So it is that in the…
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Who knows his manhood's strength, Yet still his female feebleness maintains; As to one channel flow the many drains, All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky. Thus he the constant excellence retains; The simple child again, free from all stains. Who knows how white attracts, Yet always keeps himself within black's shade, The pattern of humility displayed, Displayed in view of all beneath the…
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
What is meant by speaking thus of favour and disgrace? Disgrace is being in a low position (after the enjoyment of favour). The getting that (favour) leads to the apprehension (of losing it), and the losing it leads to the fear of (still greater calamity):—this is what is meant by saying that favour and disgrace would seem equally to be feared. And what is meant by saying that honour and great…
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing (of humility), and manifests it to all the world. He is free from self-display, and therefore he shines; from self-assertion, and therefore he is distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore his merit is acknowledged; from self-complacency, and therefore he acquires superiority. It is because he is thus free from striving that therefore…
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
Therefore the sentence-makers have thus expressed themselves:— 'The Tao, when brightest seen, seems light to lack; Who progress in it makes, seems drawing back; Its even way is like a rugged track. Its highest virtue from the vale doth rise; Its greatest beauty seems to offend the eyes; And he has most whose lot the least supplies. Its firmest virtue seems but poor and low; Its solid truth seems…
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.
The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.