-
Articles/Ads
Article THE LIFE OF CONFUCIUS. ← Page 4 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life Of Confucius.
days before his last sickness he told his followers , ' that the mountain was fallen , the hig h machine was destroyed , and the sages were no more to be seen . ' After which he began to lose his strength ; and the seventh day before his death , turning to his scholars , ' the Kings , ' said he , ' refuse to observe my maxims , and it is fit I should leave the worldin which I am no longer useful . ' After those words he
, fell into a slumber , in which he continued seven days , and then expired . He was tall and well proportioned , with broad shoulders and breast , an olive complexion , large eyes , a beard long and black , aud a nose somewhat flat ; his air was grave and majestic , and his voice strong and piercing . On the middle of his forehead grew a wen , which
somewhat disfigured him . Confucius , say his disciples , had three contrarieties in his character , which scarcely any other man has known how to reconcile . He . had all the graces of politeness , with all the awefulness of gravity ; uncommon severity of countenance , with great benignity of temper ; and the most exalted dignitywith the most engaging modesty in his air .
, He left behind ( jim three books , of which the first is called ' the Grand Science ; ' the second ' the Immutable Medium , ' a title correspondent to the MsT ^ ovajis-ov of Cleobulus , and to the common maxim , Virtusconsisf . it inmedio ; and the third , 'Moral andConcise Discourses ;' to which is added a fourth , of almost equal authority , written by his scholar Mencius .
• In the first book he endeavours to shew , that the sovereign good consists in a conformity of all our actions with rig ht reason , and that all the science requisite for Princes consists in the improvement of that reasonable nature which they have received from Heaven ; to which end it is necessary to enquire , diligently into the nature of good and evil , that love and hatred may be directed towards their proper
objects ; and when a man has thus restored himself to his original purity , it will be easy , says he , to reform the corruption of others . How this doctrine was received by the Chinese Princes , it is not related ; but if it be true , that the same condition has a tendency to produce the same manners and dispositions , we may judge , from the conduct of European Monarchsthat his rules have never yet been
re-, duced to practice . - In his second book he teaches that every man ought to adhere to the mean , in which he affirms virtue to consist , and , beginning with a definition of human nature and passions , introduces examples of piety , fortitude , prudence , filial reverence , and other virtues ; and shews that they all arise from the observation of the mean , which , he says , is
easy to practise , though it be a difficult subject of speculation . He gives examples of several Princes who have confined their conduct to the happy mean , and lays a \ o \ vn rules by which Kings may make themselves and their subjects happy . The third hook is -a collection of sentences uttered by Confucius , either on occasion of particular events , or in his casual conversation with his scholars ; and contains a great number of reflections and VOL . x . 3 A
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life Of Confucius.
days before his last sickness he told his followers , ' that the mountain was fallen , the hig h machine was destroyed , and the sages were no more to be seen . ' After which he began to lose his strength ; and the seventh day before his death , turning to his scholars , ' the Kings , ' said he , ' refuse to observe my maxims , and it is fit I should leave the worldin which I am no longer useful . ' After those words he
, fell into a slumber , in which he continued seven days , and then expired . He was tall and well proportioned , with broad shoulders and breast , an olive complexion , large eyes , a beard long and black , aud a nose somewhat flat ; his air was grave and majestic , and his voice strong and piercing . On the middle of his forehead grew a wen , which
somewhat disfigured him . Confucius , say his disciples , had three contrarieties in his character , which scarcely any other man has known how to reconcile . He . had all the graces of politeness , with all the awefulness of gravity ; uncommon severity of countenance , with great benignity of temper ; and the most exalted dignitywith the most engaging modesty in his air .
, He left behind ( jim three books , of which the first is called ' the Grand Science ; ' the second ' the Immutable Medium , ' a title correspondent to the MsT ^ ovajis-ov of Cleobulus , and to the common maxim , Virtusconsisf . it inmedio ; and the third , 'Moral andConcise Discourses ;' to which is added a fourth , of almost equal authority , written by his scholar Mencius .
• In the first book he endeavours to shew , that the sovereign good consists in a conformity of all our actions with rig ht reason , and that all the science requisite for Princes consists in the improvement of that reasonable nature which they have received from Heaven ; to which end it is necessary to enquire , diligently into the nature of good and evil , that love and hatred may be directed towards their proper
objects ; and when a man has thus restored himself to his original purity , it will be easy , says he , to reform the corruption of others . How this doctrine was received by the Chinese Princes , it is not related ; but if it be true , that the same condition has a tendency to produce the same manners and dispositions , we may judge , from the conduct of European Monarchsthat his rules have never yet been
re-, duced to practice . - In his second book he teaches that every man ought to adhere to the mean , in which he affirms virtue to consist , and , beginning with a definition of human nature and passions , introduces examples of piety , fortitude , prudence , filial reverence , and other virtues ; and shews that they all arise from the observation of the mean , which , he says , is
easy to practise , though it be a difficult subject of speculation . He gives examples of several Princes who have confined their conduct to the happy mean , and lays a \ o \ vn rules by which Kings may make themselves and their subjects happy . The third hook is -a collection of sentences uttered by Confucius , either on occasion of particular events , or in his casual conversation with his scholars ; and contains a great number of reflections and VOL . x . 3 A