Confucian Wisdom in The Great Learning and Doctrine of Mean

Introduction: The Timeless Relevance of Confucius

Confucius's wisdom remains relevant not just as a window into Chinese culture and history, but also into current affairs. The human condition has changed little since the time of Confucius, as evidenced by his teachings in The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean. Both texts address human psychology and social psychology, offering guidance on how to change attitudes, outlooks, and behaviors in order to create a better world.

Virtue, Wealth, and Ethical Action in The Great Learning

From The Great Learning we read: "Virtue is the root; wealth is the result. If he make the root his secondary object, and the result his primary, he will only wrangle with his people, and teach them rapine." All actions must stem from virtuous intentions. When wealth is pursued through unethical means, that wealth becomes a kind of poison. A clear contemporary example can be seen in the collapse of Enron. Wealth was the root of the company's ambitions, even as it tried to present itself as "the most caring in the world."

The Great Learning also offers practical advice for personal financial management: "There is a great course also for the production of wealth. Let the producers be many and the consumers few. Let there be activity in the production, and economy in the expenditure. Then the wealth will always be sufficient." This passage conveys the straightforward principle that financial security comes only when one earns more than one spends — a lesson as applicable today as it was in ancient China.

Equilibrium, Discernment, and the Superior Man in The Doctrine of the Mean

The Doctrine of the Mean refers to a state of spiritual equilibrium at which the individual is poised and genuinely content. This state differs sharply from the highs of false happiness, which inevitably lead to corresponding lows. As Confucius writes: "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." Although difficult to achieve, this state of equilibrium is a worthy personal aim.

Also in The Doctrine of the Mean, Confucius states: "There is nobody but eats and drinks. But they are few who can distinguish flavors." Taken literally, the statement rings true — many people consume food without pausing to savor or consider what they eat. The passage can also be read symbolically, as a call to develop the capacity to discern: to distinguish between ethical and unethical actions, and to judge wisely among people and choices. Confucius suggests that genuine wisdom lies in this power of discernment, not merely in satisfying immediate appetites.

A further passage from The Doctrine of the Mean also resonates: "The way which the superior man pursues, reaches wide and far, and yet is secret." This speaks to the value of the Confucian ideal of the superior man — one who achieves great things without seeking celebrity. The most important foundation for any significant accomplishment is ethical purpose, not public recognition.

Conclusion: Enduring Lessons from Confucian Philosophy

Reading the texts of Confucius lends insight into Chinese culture, history, and society. More importantly, his teachings on virtue, equilibrium, discernment, and ethical conduct continue to speak to the universal dimensions of human experience. The works of Confucius remain strikingly relevant several thousand years after they were written.