Community Development Through Academic Service Learning
Resources from Confucianism Writings

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I.  Introduction (compilation)

• The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it."  Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 4

• Tsze-kung asked, saying, "Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?" The Master said, "Is not Reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

II.  Academic Service Learning and Community Development (service, scholarship, community)

• The Duke Ting asked how a prince should employ his ministers, and how ministers should serve their prince. Confucius replied, "A prince should employ his minister according to the rules of propriety; ministers should serve their prince with faithfulness." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 3

• The Master said, "The superior man dislikes the thought of his name not being mentioned after his death."Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

• The Master said, "Learn as if you could not reach your object, and were always fearing also lest you should lose it."  Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 8

• The Master said, "The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 14

• The Master said, "Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors."  Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 4

III. Creating Knowledge through Information Fluency Using Different Sources of Knowledge (compilation)

• The Master said, "The wise find pleasure in water; the virtuous find pleasure in hills. The wise are active; the virtuous are tranquil. The wise are joyful; the virtuous are long-lived." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 6

• The Master said, "In language it is simply required that it convey the meaning." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

IV. Needs Assessment (needs, assessment)

• When the Master went to Weil Zan Yu acted as driver of his carriage. The Master observed, "How numerous are the people!" Yu said, "Since they are thus numerous, what more shall be done for them?" "Enrich them, was the reply. Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 13

• Yen Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, an under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?"
       Yen Yuan said, "I beg to ask the steps of that process." The Master replied, "Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety." Yen Yuan then said, "Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigor, I will make it my business to practice this lesson." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 12

V. Personal Strengths and Interests (compilation)

• The Master said, "The superior man is distressed by his want of ability. He is not distressed by men's not knowing him." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

• The Master said, "What the superior man seeks, is in himself. What the mean man seeks, is in others." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

• The Master said, "Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher."  Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

VI. Developing a Plan of Action (compilation)

• The Master said, "If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

• The Master said, "Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

VII. Plan Implementation & Process Data Collection (compilation)

• The Master said, "The superior man, in the world, does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 4

• Tsze-chang asked how a man should conduct himself, so as to be everywhere appreciated.
       The Master said, "Let his words be sincere and truthful and his actions honorable and careful;-such conduct may be practiced among the rude tribes of the South or the North. If his words be not sincere and truthful and his actions not honorable and carefull will he, with such conduct, be appreciated, even in his neighborhood? Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

VIII. Handling Challenges (compilation)

•      Sze-ma Niu asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "The man of perfect virtue is cautious and slow in his speech."
       Cautious and slow in his speech!" said Niu; "is this what is meant by perfect virtue?" The Master said, "When a man feels the difficulty of doing, can he be other than cautious and slow in speaking?" Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 6

• Confucius said, "The superior man has nine things which are subjects with him of thoughtful consideration. In regard to the use of his eyes, he is anxious to see clearly. In regard to the use of his ears, he is anxious to hear distinctly. In regard to his countenance, he is anxious that it should be benign. In regard to his demeanor, he is anxious that it should be respectful. In regard to his speech, he is anxious that it should be sincere. In regard to his doing of business, he is anxious that it should be reverently careful. In regard to what he doubts about, he is anxious to question others. When he is angry, he thinks of the difficulties his anger may involve him in. When he sees gain to be got, he thinks of righteousness. Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 16

• The Master said, "At first, my way with men was to hear their words, and give them credit for their conduct. Now my way is to hear their words, and look at their conduct. It is from Yu that I have learned to make this change."  Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 5

• A youth of the village of Ch'ueh was employed by Confucius to carry the messages between him and his visitors. Some one asked about him, saying, "I suppose he has made great progress."
       The Master said, "I observe that he is fond of occupying the seat of a full-grown man; I observe that he walks shoulder to shoulder with his elders. He is not one who is seeking to make progress in learning. He wishes quickly to become a man." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 14

• The Master said, "Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 12

X. Sharing and Celebration (compilation)

• The Master said, "When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves." Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 4

• The Master said, "In my dealings with men, whose evil do I blame, whose goodness do I praise, beyond what is proper? If I do sometimes exceed in praise, there must be ground for it in my examination of the individual. Confucious, The Analects, Chapter 15

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Last Revised: November 2014