The Paradox of Self-Mastery: To Subdue Oneself is to Attain the World’s Acclaim

Confucius said: “To subdue oneself and return to propriety is perfect virtue. Do it for one day, and all under heaven will call you virtuous. Is virtue from oneself, or from others?”

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, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?

克己复礼为仁。一日克己复礼,天下归仁焉。为仁由己,而由人乎哉?

Source: The Analects, Yan Yuan XII, Chapter 1

Author: Confucius

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