THE DOCTRINE OF THE MEAN
 Confucius
 
 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 (and watchful) nor till he hears things, to be
apprehensive (and terribly concerned).
 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 (under heaven), and
this Harmony is the universal path which they all (all under heaven) 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.