The Analects

A couple of years ago, I read Will Durant's The Greatest Minds of All Time. Confucius took Durant's top spot, and the following passage from The Analects was quoted. Now a personal favorite I offer it here in the spirit of ANFSCD*:

"...The illustrious ancients, when they wished to make clear and to propagate the highest virtues in the world, put their states in proper order. Before putting their states in proper order, they regulated their families. Before regulating their families, they cultivated their own selves. Before cultivating their own selves, they perfected their souls. Before perfecting their souls, they tried to be sincere in their thoughts. Before trying to be sincere in their thoughts, they extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such investigation of knowledge lay in the investigation of things, and in seeing them as they really were. When things were thus investigated, knowledge became complete. When knowledge was complete, their thoughts became sincere. When their thoughts were sincere, their souls became perfect. When their souls were perfect their own selves became cultivated. When their selves were cultivated, their families became regulated. When their families were regulated, their states came to be put in to proper order. When their states were in proper order, the whole world became peaceful and happy..." -- Confucius

*And Now For Something Completely Different

(Sigh, I just realized that this morning I accidentally posted a half-baked draft of a thought titled "Clockwork". In Blogger, it's so easy to click on the wrong button! I meant to save it as a draft.)