Confucius on the Nature of Loyalty: Why It Differs from Perfect Virtue

Confucius said: He was loyal. But I do not know if this constitutes perfect virtue.

The Master replied. “He was loyal.” “Was he perfectly virtuous?” “I do not know. How can he be pronounced perfectly virtuous?

子曰:“忠矣。”曰:“仁矣乎?”曰:“未知,焉得仁?”

Source: The Analects, Gong Ye Chang V, Chapter 19

Author: Confucius

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