srael like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face."
[Illustration: CONFUCIUS]
CONFUCIUS
The highest study of all is that which teaches us to develop those
principles of purity and perfect virtue which Heaven bestowed upon
us at our birth, in order that we may acquire the power of
influencing for good those amongst whom we are placed, by our
precepts and example; a study without an end--for our labors cease
only when we have become perfect--an unattainable goal, but one
that we must not the less set before us from the very first. It is
true that we shall not be able to reach it, but in our struggle
toward it we shall strengthen our characters and give stability to
our ideas, so that, whilst ever advancing calmly in the same
direction, we shall be rendered capable of applying the faculties
with which we have been gifted to the best possible account.
--_"The Annals" of Confucius_
CONFUCIUS
The Chinese comprise one-fourth of the inhabitants of the earth. There
are four hundred millions of them.
They can do many things which we can not do, and we can do a few things
which they have not yet been able to do; but they are learning from us,
and possibly we would do well to learn from them. In China there are now
trolley-cars, telephone-lines, typewriters, cash-registers and American
plumbing. China is a giant awaking from sleep. He who thinks that China
is a country crumbling into ruins has failed to leave a call at the
office and has overslept.
The West can not longer afford to ignore China. And not being able to
waive her, perhaps the next best thing is to try to understand her.
The one name that looms large above any other name in China is
Confucius. He of all men has influenced China most. One-third of the
human race love and cherish his memory, and repeat his words as sacred
writ.
Confucius was born at a time when one of those tidal waves of reason
swept the world--when the nations were full of unrest, and the mountains
of thought were shaken with discontent.
It was just previous to the blossoming of Greece.
Pericles was seventeen years old when Confucius died. Themistocles was
preparing the way for Pericles; for then was being collected the
treasure of Delos, which made Phidias and the Parthenon possible. During
the life of Confucius lived Leonidas, Miltiades, Cyrus the Great,
Cambyses, Darius, Xerxes. And then quite
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