Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.
ConfuciusRead
A gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias._x000D_ The small man is biased and can see a question only from one side.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A wise person considers multiple perspectives before forming a judgment, while a narrow-minded individual sees only one side.
This quote by Confucius highlights the importance of open-mindedness and critical thinking. A gentleman, representing wisdom and maturity, is able to view issues from various angles, which allows for a deeper understanding and more informed decisions. In contrast, the 'small man' symbolizes ignorance and prejudice, as he is limited to a singular, biased perspective, which can lead to misunderstandings and poor choices.
Themes
PerspectiveWisdomBiasOpen-MindednessUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate, one could refer to this quote to emphasize the importance of considering all viewpoints.
More from Confucius
All quotes βEarnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.
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When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.
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Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
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The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
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Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
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