Tsze-lu asked what constituted the superior man. Confucius answered, “The cultivation of himself in reverential carefulness.”
“And is this all?”
“He cultivates himself so as to give rest to others.”
“And is this all?”
“He cultivates himself so as to give rest to all the people.”
Confucius confessed, “The way of the superior man is threefold, but I am not equal to it. Virtuous, he is free from anxieties; wise, he is free from perplexities; bold, he is free from fear.”
Tsze-kung also asked what constituted the superior man. Confucius replied, “He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.”
Defining Virtue, Wisdom, and Boldness
As a class or in groups, discuss a definition and your thoughts on the meaning of the following words: virtue, wisdom, and boldness.
Discussion of Virtue, Wisdom, and Boldness
Tsze-lu asked what constituted the superior man. Confucius answered, “The cultivation of himself in reverential carefulness.”
“And is this all?”
“He cultivates himself so as to give rest to others.”
“And is this all?”
“He cultivates himself so as to give rest to all the people.”
Confucius confessed, “The way of the superior man is threefold, but I am not equal to it. Virtuous, he is free from anxieties; wise, he is free from perplexities; bold, he is free from fear.”
Tsze-kung also asked what constituted the superior man. Confucius replied, “He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.”
Defining Virtue, Wisdom, and Boldness
As a class or in groups, discuss a definition and your thoughts on the meaning of the following words: virtue, wisdom, and boldness.
Discussion of Virtue, Wisdom, and Boldness
In groups or as a class, discuss the above quotes. What do you think of the quote. Do you like it or not? Why? Do you think the quote is true 100% of the time? When might it be true and when might it not be?
Introductory Discussion Questions
If a man desires to be superior to other men, what actions should he take?
Is is better to seek betterment of oneself only, or to seek the betterment of others? Why?
What should a person do about anxieties?
What should a person do about perplexities?
Which are more important, actions or words? Explain...
Synonym Matching
constituted worries
asked panic
cultivation made up of
cultivates gardening
way promotes
equal to it path
anxieties answered
fear questioned
replied able to do it
Antonym Matching
superior simplicity
carefulness before
confessed inferior
free from remains silent
perplexities carelessness
bold timid
acts denied
speaks enslaved by
afterwards does nothing
Listening Blank Fill
Tsze-lu asked __________ constituted the superior man. Confucius answered, “The cultivation ________ himself in reverential carefulness.”
“And is this all?”
“_________ cultivates himself so as to give rest to ______________.”
“And is this all?”
“He cultivates himself so ___________ to give rest to all the people.”
Confucius _________________, “The way of the superior man is threefold, _____________ I am not equal to it. Virtuous, he ____________ free from anxieties; wise, he is free from ____________________; bold, he is free from fear.”
Tsze-kung also _______________ what constituted the superior man. Confucius replied, “He ___________ before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to ________________ actions.”
Word Bank Fill in the Blank
Tsze-lu asked what constituted the superior ____________. Confucius __________________, “The cultivation of himself in reverential carefulness.”
“And is this all?”
“He _________________ himself so as to give rest to others.”
“____________ is this all?”
“He cultivates _____________ so as to give _____________ to all the people.”
Confucius _________________, “The way of the superior man is threefold, but I am not equal to it. Virtuous, he is free from anxieties; wise, he is free from perplexities; bold, he is free from ____________.”
Tsze-kung also ________________ what constituted the superior man. Confucius replied, “He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his ________________.”
confessed
rest
fear
asked
actions
himself
man
cultivates
answered
And
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What did Confucius believe would make a man superior. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Did Confucius feel that he was up to the task of being a superior man?
Do you think it is possible to be free of perplexities? Why or why not?
What does Confucius believe about the relationship between actions and words?
What practical steps could we take to lessen stress in our lives?
B
How do you think cultivating one's self would bring rest to others?
Do you think it is possible to be free of anxieties? Why or why not?
Is it possible to be free of fear? Why or why not?
Do you think it is important to act before speaking? Why or why not?
What practical steps could we take to lessen fear in our lives? Is fear ever a good thing? When?
Writing
Write a letter or paper that encourages a friend or young person to cultivate virtue, wisdom, and boldness. The paper should include practical steps for promoting these three things.
Homework
Find your favorite quotes about virtue, boldness, wisdom, and the relationship between actions and words. Translate them into English if necessary, and be prepared to share your favorites with the class.
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: constituted-->made up of, asked-->questioned, cultivation-->gardening, cultivates-->promotes, way-->path, equal to it-->able to do it, anxieties-->fears, fear-->panic, replied-->answered.
Antonym Matching: superior-->inferior, carefulness-->carelessness, confessed-->denied, free from--> enslaved by, perplexities-->simplicity, bold-->timid, acts-->does nothing, speaks-->remains silent, afterwards-->before.
Listening Blank Fill: what, of, He, others, as, answered, but, is, perplexities, asked, acts, his
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: man, answered, cultivates, And, himself, rest, confessed, fear, asked, actions.
Key Words and Sentence
Constituted 构成
Cultivation 养殖
Reverential Carefulness 虔诚的细心
子曰：「君子道者三，我無能焉：仁者不憂，知者不惑，勇者不懼。」
Introductory Discussion Questions
If a man desires to be superior to other men, what actions should he take?
Is is better to seek betterment of oneself only, or to seek the betterment of others? Why?
What should a person do about anxieties?
What should a person do about perplexities?
Which are more important, actions or words? Explain...
Synonym Matching
constituted worries
asked panic
cultivation made up of
cultivates gardening
way promotes
equal to it path
anxieties answered
fear questioned
replied able to do it
Antonym Matching
superior simplicity
carefulness before
confessed inferior
free from remains silent
perplexities carelessness
bold timid
acts denied
speaks enslaved by
afterwards does nothing
Listening Blank Fill
Tsze-lu asked __________ constituted the superior man. Confucius answered, “The cultivation ________ himself in reverential carefulness.”
“And is this all?”
“_________ cultivates himself so as to give rest to ______________.”
“And is this all?”
“He cultivates himself so ___________ to give rest to all the people.”
Confucius _________________, “The way of the superior man is threefold, _____________ I am not equal to it. Virtuous, he ____________ free from anxieties; wise, he is free from ____________________; bold, he is free from fear.”
Tsze-kung also _______________ what constituted the superior man. Confucius replied, “He ___________ before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to ________________ actions.”
Word Bank Fill in the Blank
Tsze-lu asked what constituted the superior ____________. Confucius __________________, “The cultivation of himself in reverential carefulness.”
“And is this all?”
“He _________________ himself so as to give rest to others.”
“____________ is this all?”
“He cultivates _____________ so as to give _____________ to all the people.”
Confucius _________________, “The way of the superior man is threefold, but I am not equal to it. Virtuous, he is free from anxieties; wise, he is free from perplexities; bold, he is free from ____________.”
Tsze-kung also ________________ what constituted the superior man. Confucius replied, “He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his ________________.”
confessed
rest
fear
asked
actions
himself
man
cultivates
answered
And
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What did Confucius believe would make a man superior. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Did Confucius feel that he was up to the task of being a superior man?
Do you think it is possible to be free of perplexities? Why or why not?
What does Confucius believe about the relationship between actions and words?
What practical steps could we take to lessen stress in our lives?
B
How do you think cultivating one's self would bring rest to others?
Do you think it is possible to be free of anxieties? Why or why not?
Is it possible to be free of fear? Why or why not?
Do you think it is important to act before speaking? Why or why not?
What practical steps could we take to lessen fear in our lives? Is fear ever a good thing? When?
Writing
Write a letter or paper that encourages a friend or young person to cultivate virtue, wisdom, and boldness. The paper should include practical steps for promoting these three things.
Homework
Find your favorite quotes about virtue, boldness, wisdom, and the relationship between actions and words. Translate them into English if necessary, and be prepared to share your favorites with the class.
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: constituted-->made up of, asked-->questioned, cultivation-->gardening, cultivates-->promotes, way-->path, equal to it-->able to do it, anxieties-->fears, fear-->panic, replied-->answered.
Antonym Matching: superior-->inferior, carefulness-->carelessness, confessed-->denied, free from--> enslaved by, perplexities-->simplicity, bold-->timid, acts-->does nothing, speaks-->remains silent, afterwards-->before.
Listening Blank Fill: what, of, He, others, as, answered, but, is, perplexities, asked, acts, his
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: man, answered, cultivates, And, himself, rest, confessed, fear, asked, actions.
Key Words and Sentence
Constituted 构成
Cultivation 养殖
Reverential Carefulness 虔诚的细心
子曰：「君子道者三，我無能焉：仁者不憂，知者不惑，勇者不懼。」
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