The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhong Yong)ConfucianismAccepted ScriptureClassical ChineseShareThe Doctrine of the Mean 22James Legge (1861) - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableJames Legge (1861)LanguageEnglishEspañol‹The Doctrine of the Mean 1The Doctrine of the Mean 2The Doctrine of the Mean 3The Doctrine of the Mean 4The Doctrine of the Mean 5The Doctrine of the Mean 6The Doctrine of the Mean 7The Doctrine of the Mean 8The Doctrine of the Mean 9The Doctrine of the Mean 10The Doctrine of the Mean 11The Doctrine of the Mean 12The Doctrine of the Mean 13The Doctrine of the Mean 14The Doctrine of the Mean 15The Doctrine of the Mean 16The Doctrine of the Mean 17The Doctrine of the Mean 18The Doctrine of the Mean 19The Doctrine of the Mean 20The Doctrine of the Mean 21The Doctrine of the Mean 22The Doctrine of the Mean 23The Doctrine of the Mean 24The Doctrine of the Mean 25The Doctrine of the Mean 26The Doctrine of the Mean 27The Doctrine of the Mean 28The Doctrine of the Mean 29The Doctrine of the Mean 30The Doctrine of the Mean 31The Doctrine of the Mean 32The Doctrine of the Mean 33The Doctrine of the Mean 34The Doctrine of the Mean 35The Doctrine of the Mean 36The Doctrine of the Mean 37The Doctrine of the Mean 38The Doctrine of the Mean 39›Section 22 (1)The Doctrine of the Mean 22ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter"In all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such previous preparation there is sure to be failure. If what is to be spoken be previously determined, there will be no stumbling. If affairs be previously determined, there will be no difficulty with them. If one's actions have been previously determined, there will be no sorrow in connection with them. If principles of conduct have been previously determined, the practice of them will be inexhaustible. When those in inferior situations do not obtain the confidence of the sovereign, they cannot succeed in governing the people. There is a way to obtain the confidence of the sovereign;-if one is not trusted by his friends, he will not get the confidence of his sovereign. There is a way to being trusted by one's friends;-if one is not obedient to his parents, he will not be true to friends. There is a way to being obedient to one's parents;-if one, on turning his thoughts in upon himself, finds a want of sincerity, he will not be obedient to his parents. There is a way to the attainment of sincerity in one's self; -if a man do not understand what is good, he will not attain sincerity in himself. Sincerity is the way of Heaven. The attainment of sincerity is the way of men. He who possesses sincerity is he who, without an effort, hits what is right, and apprehends, without the exercise of thought;-he is the sage who naturally and easily embodies the right way. He who attains to sincerity is he who chooses what is good, and firmly holds it fast. To this attainment there are requisite the extensive study of what is good, accurate inquiry about it, careful reflection on it, the clear discrimination of it, and the earnest practice of it. The superior man, while there is anything he has not studied, or while in what he has studied there is anything he cannot understand, will not intermit his labor. While there is anything he has not inquired about, or anything in what he has inquired about which he does not know, he will not intermit his labor. While there is anything which he has not reflected on, or anything in what he has reflected on which he does not apprehend, he will not intermit his labor. While there is anything which he has not discriminated or his discrimination is not clear, he will not intermit his labor. If there be anything which he has not practiced, or his practice fails in earnestness, he will not intermit his labor. If another man succeed by one effort, he will use a hundred efforts. If another man succeed by ten efforts, he will use a thousand. Let a man proceed in this way, and, though dull, he will surely become intelligent; though weak, he will surely become strong." ‹Previous chapterThe Doctrine of the Mean 21Next chapterThe Doctrine of the Mean 23›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain