The gentleman (君子)
In the Analects, a person of fine character, whatever his birth, set against the petty person. Literally “son of a ruler.”
Sayings on learning, friends and family
Confucius and his followers, Analects (Lunyu), in the Chinese text of James Legge, The Chinese Classics, vol. 1 (Oxford, 1893) · about 400 BCE (sayings of Confucius, who died in 479 BCE, collected after his death)
子曰、學而時習之、不亦說乎。有朋自遠方來、不亦樂乎。人不知而不慍、不亦君子乎。
The Master said: To learn and practice it at the right times, isn’t that a pleasure? To have a friend come from far away, isn’t that a joy? To go unrecognized by others and feel no resentment, isn’t that the mark of a gentleman?
子曰、君子不重、則不威、學則不固。主忠信。無友不如己者。過則勿憚改。
The Master said: A gentleman who is not serious will not be respected, and his learning will not hold firm. Put loyalty and good faith first. Have no friend who is not your equal. When you make a mistake, do not be afraid to fix it.
子曰、君子食無求飽、居無求安、敏於事、而慎於言、就有道、而正焉、可謂好學也已。
The Master said: A gentleman does not look for a full stomach or a comfortable home, is quick in his work and careful in his speech, and goes to those who have the Way to be set straight. Such a man can be called eager to learn.
子貢問君子、子曰、先行其言、而後從之。
Zigong asked about the gentleman. The Master said: He first carries out what he says, and only then speaks in line with it.
子曰、君子周而不比、小人比而不周。
The Master said: A gentleman is broad in sympathy and does not take sides; a petty person takes sides and is not broad.
子曰、君子之於天下也、無適也、無莫也、義之與比。
The Master said: In dealing with the world, a gentleman is not set for anything or against anything; he goes along with what is right.
子曰、君子懷德、小人懷土、君子懷刑、小人懷惠。
The Master said: A gentleman thinks of virtue; a petty person thinks of home comforts. A gentleman thinks of the law; a petty person thinks of favors.
子曰、君子喻於義、小人喻於利。
The Master said: A gentleman understands what is right; a petty person understands what pays.
子謂子產、有君子之道四焉、其行己也恭、其事上也敬、其養民也惠、其使民也義。
The Master spoke of Zichan: he had four of the gentleman’s ways. In his own conduct he was courteous; in serving his superiors, respectful; in caring for the people, kind; in employing the people, just.
子曰、君子坦蕩蕩、小人長戚戚。
The Master said: A gentleman is calm and open; a petty person is always full of worry.
子曰、君子義以為質、禮以行之、孫以出之、信以成之、君子哉。
The Master said: A gentleman takes rightness as his core, carries it out by ritual, speaks it with humility, and completes it with good faith. That is a gentleman!
子曰、君子病無能焉、不病人之不己知也。
The Master said: A gentleman is troubled by his own lack of ability; he is not troubled that others do not know him.
子曰、君子矜而不爭、群而不黨。
The Master said: A gentleman is dignified but does not quarrel; he joins with others but forms no cliques.
子曰、君子不以言舉人、不以人廢言。
The Master said: A gentleman does not promote a person for his words, nor throw out words because of the person.