"Doctorine of the Mean" - читать интересную книгу автора (Confucius)

becomes manifest. From being manifest, it becomes brilliant.
Brilliant, it affects others. Affecting others, they are changed by
it. Changed by it, they are transformed. It is only he who is
possessed of the most complete sincerity that can exist under
heaven, who can transform.
It is characteristic of the most entire sincerity to be able to
foreknow. When a nation or family is about to flourish, there are sure
to be happy omens; and when it is about to perish, there are sure to
be unlucky omens. Such events are seen in the milfoil and tortoise,
and affect the movements of the four limbs. When calamity or happiness
is about to come, the good shall certainly be foreknown by him, and
the evil also. Therefore the individual possessed of the most complete
sincerity is like a spirit.
Sincerity is that whereby self-completion is effected, and its way
is that by which man must direct himself.
Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity
there would be nothing. On this account, the superior man regards
the attainment of sincerity as the most excellent thing.
The possessor of sincerity does not merely accomplish the
self-completion of himself. With this quality he completes other men
and things also. The completing himself shows his perfect virtue.
The completing other men and things shows his knowledge. But these are
virtues belonging to the nature, and this is the way by which a
union is effected of the external and internal. Therefore, whenever
he-the entirely sincere man-employs them,-that is, these virtues,
their action will be right.
Hence to entire sincerity there belongs ceaselessness.
Not ceasing, it continues long. Continuing long, it evidences
itself.
Evidencing itself, it reaches far. Reaching far, it becomes large
and substantial. Large and substantial, it becomes high and brilliant.
Large and substantial;-this is how it contains all things. High
and brilliant;-this is how it overspreads all things. Reaching far and
continuing long;-this is how it perfects all things.
So large and substantial, the individual possessing it is the
co-equal of Earth. So high and brilliant, it makes him the co-equal of
Heaven. So far-reaching and long-continuing, it makes him infinite.
Such being its nature, without any display, it becomes manifested;
without any movement, it produces changes; and without any effort,
it accomplishes its ends.
The way of Heaven and Earth may be completely declared in one
sentence.-They are without any doubleness, and so they produce
things in a manner that is unfathomable.
The way of Heaven and Earth is large and substantial, high and
brilliant, far-reaching and long-enduring.
The Heaven now before us is only this bright shining spot; but
when viewed in its inexhaustible extent, the sun, moon, stars, and
constellations of the zodiac, are suspended in it, and all things
are overspread by it. The earth before us is but a handful of soil;
but when regarded in its breadth and thickness, it sustains