The Doctrine of the Mean
By Confucius
Written ca. 500 B.C.E
What Heaven has conferred is called The
Nature; an accordance with this nature
is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction.
The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would
not be the path. On this account, the superior man does not wait till
he sees things, to be cautious, nor till he hears things, to be apprehensive.
There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more
manifest than what is minute. Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.
While there are no stirrings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy, the
mind may be said to be in the state of Equilibrium. When those feelings have been stirred, and they act in their due degree, there ensues
what may be called the state of Harmony. This Equilibrium is the
great root from which grow all the human actings
in the world, and this Harmony is the universal path which they
all should pursue.
Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and
a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish.