The Three Pillars of Awe: Confucius on What a Noble Mind Truly Reveres

Confucius said: “The superior man stands in awe of Heaven’s Mandate, of great men, and of the sages’ words.”

There are three things of which the superior man stands in awe. He stands in awe of the ordinances of Heaven. He stands in awe of great men. He stands in awe of the words of sages.

君子有三畏:畏天命,畏大人,畏圣人之言。

Source: The Analects, Ji Shi XVI, Chapter 8

Author: Confucius

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