Li
Ren requires Li (Book 2)
What is "1.12 Master You said: In the practice of li, Harmony is the key. In the Dao of the kings of old, This was the beauty. In all affairs, great and small, follow this. Yet there is one respect in which one does not. To act in harmony simply because one understands what is harmonious, but not to regulate one’s conduct according to li: indeed, one cannot act in that way."
To be Xiao doesn't just require Li, it also requires Yi (Book 2)
What is "Book 2.7 Ziyou asked about filiality. The Master said, “What is meant by filiality today is nothing but being able to take care of your parents. But even hounds and horses can require care. Without respectful vigilance, what is the difference?”?
Or -> "Book 2.8 Zixia asked about filiality. The Master said, “It is the expression on the face that is difficult. That the young should shoulder the hardest chores or that the eldest are served food and wine first at meals – whenever was that what filiality meant?”
Music is a form of Ren (Book 3)
What is " Book 3.23 The Master instructed the Music Master of Lu: “The pattern of music is something we can understand. Music commences with unison, and then follows with harmony, each line clearly heard, moving in sequence towards the coda.”?
The Junzi is committed to their role and always seeks to act properly (Book 1)
What is "1.8 The Master said: If a junzi is not serious he will not be held in awe. If you study you will not be crude. Take loyalty and trustworthiness as the pivot and have no friends who are not like yourself in this. If you err, do not be afraid to correct yourself."?
Xiao is the root of Ren/Harmony (Book 1)
What is "Master You said: It is rare to find a person who is filial to his parents and respectful of his elders, yet who likes to oppose his ruling superior. And never has there been one who does not like opposing his ruler who has raised a rebellion. The junzi works on the root – once the root is planted, the dao is born. Filiality and respect for elders, are these not the roots of ren?"?
Li is required to be Xiao (Book 2)
What is (Book 2.5: Meng Yizi asked about filiality. The Master said, “Never disobey.” Fan Chi was driving the Master’s chariot, and the Master told him, “Meng Yizi asked me about filiality and I replied, ‘Never disobey.’” Fan Chi said, “What did you mean?” The Master said, “While they are alive, serve them according to li. When they are dead, bury them according to li; sacrifice to them according to li.”"?
Yi is important to acting right (Li) especially when going to different communities (Book 1)
What is "1.10 Ziqin asked Zigong, “When our Master travels to a state, he always learns the affairs of its government. Does he seek out the information, or do people give it to him of their own accord?” Zigong said, “Our Master obtains this information by being friendly, straightforward, reverential, frugal, and modest. The way our Master seeks things is different from the way others do!”?
If everyone follows Li and Yi, everyone will obey (Book 2)
What is "Book 2.19 Duke Ai asked, “What should I do so that the people will obey?” Confucius replied, “Raise up the straight and set them above the crooked and the people will obey. Raise up the crooked and set them above the straight and the people will not obey."
The Junzi focuses on their own actions and moral duties obligations. (Book 1)
What is "1.16 The Master said: Do not be concerned that no one recognizes your merits. Be concerned that you may not recognize others’"?
Xiao is the source of Li (Book 1)
What is "1.11 The Master said: When the father is alive, observe the son’s intent. When the father dies, observe the son’s conduct. One who does not alter his late father’s dao for three years may be called filial."?
(1.13 is also acceptable)
Li requires Ren (Book 3)
What is "Book 3.3 The Master said: If a man is not ren, what can he do with li? If a man in not ren, what can he do with music?" ?
Yi ensures that Li is done properly (Book 3)
What is "Book 3.4 Lin Fang asked about the root of li. The Master said, “An important question! In li it would be better to be frugal than to be extravagant. In funeral ritual it would be better to be guided by one’s grief than simply to attend to the ritual stipulations"?
A good society is built through moral education rather than punishment (Book 2)
What is "Book 2.3 The Master said: Guide them with policies and align them with punishments and the people will evade them and have no shame. Guide them with virtue and align them with li and the people will have a sense of shame and fulfill their roles."?
The Junzi's action are aligned with the Dao (Book 1)
What is "Book 1.14 The Master said: A junzi is not concerned that food fill his belly; he does not seek comfort in his residence. If a person is apt in conduct and cautious in speech, stays near those who keep to the dao and corrects himself thereby, he may be said to love learning."
The Parent has the ultimate authority over the child (Book 2)
What is (Book 2.5 Meng Yizi asked about filiality. The Master said, “Never disobey.” Fan Chi was driving the Master’s chariot, and the Master told him, “Meng Yizi asked me about filiality and I replied, ‘Never disobey.’” Fan Chi said, “What did you mean?” The Master said, “While they are alive, serve them according to li. When they are dead, bury them according to li; sacrifice to them according to li.”"?
Li requires Yi (Book 3)
What is "Book 3. 12 Sacrifice as though present” – sacrifice to the spirits as though the spirits were present. The Master said: If I don’t participate in a sacrifice, it is as though there were no sacrifice."
The Junzi focuses on aligning their will with Yi (Book 4)
What is "Book 4.10 The Master said, The junzi’s stance towards the world is this: there is nothing he insists on, nothing he refuses, he simply aligns himself beside right."
Education is a form of governance (Book 2)
What is "2.21 Someone addressed Confucius, saying, “Why do you not engage in government?” The Master said, “The Documents says, ‘Filial, merely be filial, and friends to brothers young and old.’ To apply this as one’s governance is also to engage in government. Why must there be some purposeful effort to engage in governance?”?
The Junzi must actively live a life of Li, Yi, and Ren (Book 2)
What is "Book 2. 12: The Master said: The junzi is not a vessel."?
A child ought to focus on their duties (Xiao) not their needs or desires (Book 2)
What is "Book 2.6 Meng Wubo asked about filiality. The Master said, “Let your mother and father need be concerned only for your health.”?
Li and Music both lead to Harmony in the same way (Book 3)
What is "3.3 The Master said: If a man is not ren, what can he do with li? If a man in not ren, what can he do with music?"?
Yi ensures that people can be guided (Book 2)
What is "2.22 The Master said: A person without trustworthiness, who knows what he may do? A carriage without a yoke strap, a cart without a yoke hook: how can you drive them?"
The (Negative) Golden Rule (Book 5)
What is "5.12 Zigong said, “What I do not wish others to do to me, I do not wish to do to others.” The Master said, “Si, this is a level you have not yet reached.”
The Dao is the source of right and wrong actions (Book 4)
What is "Book 4.5 The Master said, Wealth and high rank are what people desire; if they are attained by not following the dao, do not dwell in them. Poverty and mean rank are what people hate; if they are attained by not following the dao, do not depart from them. If one takes ren away from a junzi, wherein is he worthy of the name? There is no interval so short that the junzi deviates from ren. Though rushing full tilt, it is there; though head over heels, it is there."
Xiao requires paying attention to one's parents (Book 4)
What is "4.21 The Master said, One cannot fail to know the ages of one’s parents: on one hand, these are a source of happiness, on the other hand of fear."