The Analects of Confucius: Selections regarding the Five Constant
Relationships
Ruler/Subject (master/Servant)
1. “The Master said, "When a prince's personal conduct is correct, his
government is effective without the issuing of orders. If his personal conduct
is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed." (Chapter
13)
Parent/Child
1. The Master said, "A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad,
respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in
love to all, and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and
opportunity, after the performance of these things, he should employ them in
polite studies." (Chapter 1)
2. The philosopher Tsang said, "Let there be a careful attention to perform the
funeral rites to parents, and let them be followed when long gone with the
ceremonies of sacrifice; -- then the virtue of the people will resume its proper
excellence." (Chapter 1)
3. Wang I asked what filial piety was. The Master said, "It is not being disobedient."
Soon after, as Fan Ch'ih was driving him, the Master told him, saying, "Mangsun asked me what filial piety was, and I answered him, -- 'not being
disobedient.'"
Fan Ch'ih said, "What did you mean?"
The Master replied, "That parents, when alive,
be served according to
propriety; that, when dead, they should be buried according to propriety; and
that they should be sacrificed to according to propriety." (Chapter 2)
4. Ch'an K'ang asked Po-yu, saying, "Have you heard any lessons from your father
different from what we have all heard?"
Po-yu replied, "No. He was standing alone once, when I passed below the hall
with hasty steps, and said to me, 'Have you learned the Odes?' On my replying
'Not yet,' he added, If you do not learn the Odes, you will not be fit to
converse with.' I retired and studied the Odes.
"Another day, he was in the same way standing alone, when I passed by below the
hall with hasty steps, and said to me, 'Have you learned the rules of Propriety?' On
my replying 'Not yet,' he added, 'If you do not learn the rules of Propriety, your
character cannot be established.' I then retired, and learned the rules of Propriety.
"I have heard only these two things from him."
Ch'ang K'ang retired, and, quite delighted, said, "I asked one thing, and I have got
three things. I have heard about the Odes. I have heard about the rules of
Propriety. I have also heard that the superior man maintains a distant reserve
towards his son."
Husband/Wife (Man/Woman)
1. Of all people, girls and servants are the most difficult to behave to. If you are
familiar with them, they lose their humility. If you maintain a reserve towards
them, they are discontented." (Chapter 17)
Friend to Friend
1. "In serving a prince, frequent remonstrances lead to disgrace. Between friends,
frequent reproofs make the friendship distant."(Chapter 4)