The Analects, The Doctrine of the Mean
Context: Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity there would be nothing. On this account, the superior man regards the attainment of sincerity as the most excellent thing.
1970's, Conversations with Samuel Beckett and Bram van Velde (1970 - 1972)
“Good manners without sincerity are like a beautiful dead lady.”
Autobiography of a Yogi (1946)
“God cannot be realized without love. Yes, sincere love.”
[A Short Life of the Holy Mother, 88]
“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
Source: 1960s, Strength to Love (1963), Ch. 4 : Love in action, Sct. 3
“Sincerity is the way of Heaven. The attainment of sincerity is the way of men.”
The Analects, The Doctrine of the Mean
Context: Sincerity is the way of Heaven. The attainment of sincerity is the way of men. He who possesses sincerity is he who, without an effort, hits what is right, and apprehends, without the exercise of thought — he is the sage who naturally and easily embodies the right way. He who attains to sincerity is he who chooses what is good, and firmly holds it fast. To this attainment there are requisite the extensive study of what is good, accurate inquiry about it, careful reflection on it, the clear discrimination of it, and the earnest practice of it.
“In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.”
Source: The Importance of Being Earnest
