Confucius said: “If you reach the age of forty and are still disdained by others, you are finished.” 子曰：「年四十而見惡焉，其終也已。」 Of course, it is possible to change as you get older. It just requires a lot more willpower to shed all those bad habits and unwanted pounds you have accumulated while…

Confucius said: “Women and servants are difficult to deal with: if you get too close to them, they become disrespectful; if you get too distant, they become resentful.” 子曰：「唯女子與小人為難養也！近之則不孫，遠之則怨。」 Stereotyping people is not just offensive. It is totally unacceptable. It should go without saying that we all should treat everyone…

Zigong said: “Does an exemplary person have things that they loathe?” Confucius said: “Yes. They loathe those who point out what is loathsome in others. They loathe those in inferior positions who slander their superiors. They loathe those whose courage is not tempered by ritual. They loathe those who are…

Zilu said: “Does an exemplary person prize courage?” Confucius said: “An exemplary person prizes rightness above all else. An exemplary person who is courageous but lacking in rightness could create chaos; a petty person who is courageous but lacking in rightness could become a bandit.” 子路曰：「君子尚勇乎？」子曰：「君子義以為上。君子有勇而無義為亂，小人有勇而無義為盜。」 Your greatest strength often…

Confucius said: “I cannot stand those people who eat all day long without ever using their minds! Can they not play dice or chess? At least playing those games would be better than nothing.” 「飽食終日，無所用心，難矣哉！不有博弈者乎？為之猶賢乎已！」 We all need to unplug from time to time. In fact, we should make a…

Zai Yu asked: “Three years of mourning for your parents: this is a long time. If an exemplary person does not practice ritual for three years, ritual is sure to decay; if they do not practice music for three years, music is sure to collapse. As the grain from last…

Ru Bei wanted to see Confucius. Confucius declined due to illness. As Ru Bei’s messenger was leaving, Confucius picked up his zither and sang loudly enough for him to hear. 孺悲欲見孔子，孔子辭以疾，將命者出戶，取瑟而歌，使之聞之。 If you are determined to teach someone a lesson they will never forget, it is best to deliver it…

Confucius said: “I wish to speak no more.” Zigong said: “Master, if you do not speak, how will your followers be able to pass on any of your teachings?” Confucius said: “Does heaven speak? The four seasons turn and all the creatures continue to be born, but does heaven speak?”…

Confucius said: “I loathe purple for replacing vermilion; I loathe the melodies of Zheng for corrupting classical music; I loathe the clever of tongue for undermining states and families.” 子曰：「惡紫之奪朱也，惡鄭聲之亂雅樂也，惡利口之覆邦家者。」 Why not goose up the margins on the blockbuster product that put your company on the map by replacing the…