University · Moderate

Chapter 15
[Original text]

Zhong Ni① said: "A gentleman is moderate, and a villain is opposed to it. A gentleman is moderate, and a gentleman is moderate. A villain opposes the mean, and a villain is not afraid of it."

【Note】

① Zhongni: Confucius, named Qiu, styled Zhongni.

② Zhongyong: Moderate, impartial, neither excessive nor insufficient.Yong, normal.Moderation is the highest moral standard of Confucianism.

③Shizhong: It means that words and deeds are always in line with the golden mean.

④忍怪 (dàn): scruples and fear.

【Translation】

Confucius said: "The words and deeds of a gentleman conform to the moral standard of the mean, while the words and deeds of a villain violate the moral standard of the mean. The reason why a gentleman can reach the standard of the mean is because the words and deeds of a gentleman always conform to the moral standard of the mean. Therefore, the violation of the standard of the mean is due to the unscrupulous actions of villains."

[Zhu Xi Tips]

RightChapter 2.

【Translation】

Zhu Xi reminded that the above paragraph is Chapter 2.

(End of this chapter)