KEEP THE OLD WARM

The Master said: ‘The gentleman wishes to be slow in speech but prompt in action.’ – 孔夫子 Master Kong (Confucius) The Analects 4:24

In The Analects, Confucius gravitates towards the “gentleman”. We can regard this as an ideal man – strong, resilient, calm, kind, a leader, community oriented, takes initiative, etc.

To be an ideal man or woman, we will rarely err if we are prompt to take action and follow through rather than be excessive in speech. Nothing gets done if agreeable words are spoken only. We need to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Starting anything, a project, a goal, even a simple chore during the day is the hardest part. Yet the process of doing becomes its own reward if we start and stick to it. Observe yourself and if you are quick to explain, make promises and excuses, or even are prone to talking about yourself, what you’ve done, or what you might do. We are all susceptible to these impulses, but we are all also susceptible to feeling the reward of taking action and walking the walk.

Put yourself in motion, start, continue, follow through to the end. Be slow in speech and prompt in action. Do that for many years because that is where success and fulfillment lie waiting for you.