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James Legge Quotes

James Legge was a Scottish sinologist, missionary, and scholar, best known as an early and prolific translator of Classical Chinese texts into English. Legge served as a representative of the London Missionary Society in Malacca and Hong Kong and was the first Professor of Chinese at Oxford University . In association with Max Müller he prepared the monumental Sacred Books of the East series, published in 50 volumes between 1879 and 1891. Wikipedia  

✵ 20. December 1815 – 29. November 1897
James Legge photo
James Legge: 7 quotes2 likes

Famous James Legge Quotes

“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”

James Legge

Bk. 14, Ch. 29 (p. 208)
Translations, The Confucian Analects

“The Master said, […] "Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles." […] "Have no friends not equal to yourself." […] "When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."”

James Legge

Bk. 1, Ch. 8 (p. 7)
Translations, The Confucian Analects

“When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”

James Legge

Bk. 4, Ch. 17 (p. 45)
Translations, The Confucian Analects

“When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them.”

James Legge

Bk. 7, Ch. 21 (p. 87)
Translations, The Confucian Analects

“The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.”

James Legge

Bk. 14, Ch. 3 (p. 193)
Translations, The Confucian Analects

“To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.”

James Legge

Bk. 2, Ch. 24 (p. 23)
Translations, The Confucian Analects

“The Master standing by a stream, said, "It passes on just like this, not ceasing day or night!"”

James Legge

Bk. 9, Ch. 16 (p. 115)
Translations, The Confucian Analects

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