Election Advice

07 Sept 08

Ancient guidance during a modern election year:

Confucius (551 - 479 BC) attempts to define "Goodness." He says that, to be good, one must be (1) courageous, (2) audacious, (3) simple, and (4) slow in speech.

"Gang" (brave) is "to be unshaken by fear.""Yi" (firm) is to be " determined and daring." "Mu" is to be "simple." "Na" is to be "restrained in speech." To be possessed of these four qualities is to approach True Goodness.

Admonitions to be "restrained in speech" are found throughout the teachings of Confucius. He repeatedly cautions us not to mistake cleverness for substance. "Artful words, and a pleasing countenance, have little connection with True Goodness," says he.

Restraint in speech indicates self-restraint, which, in turn, indicates one's mind and heart, endowed with True Goodness, have not been overwhelmedby selfish ambition. Nimble, clever words and phrases are evidence of "adorning oneself" in an effort to impress, rather than enlighten.

/John