“Master”,
the weary student implored, “Why is it that you stress
the study and cultivation of virtue within the mind? There are
those who say it is enough to lead a life of virtue, and that
such a life can be achieved with-out all the study you recommend.”
“Ah
Ten-sing,” the Master replied, “All of life is a matter
of balance. If a person loves kindness, but does not love study,
their shortcomings will be ignorance. If a person loves wisdom
but does not love sound ideas, their shortcomings will be having
fanciful ideas. If a person loves honesty and does not love
study, their shortcomings will be a tendency to spoil or upset
things. If a person loves simplicity but does not love study,
their shortcoming will be the sheer following of routine. If
a person loves courage and does not love study, his shortcoming
will be unruliness or violence. If a person loves decision of
character but does not love study, their shortcoming will be
self-will or headstrong belief in himself.”
From
The Way of Virtue – The Ancient Wisdom of Confucius
by James Vollbracht
