The "ever-victorious Army,": A History of the Chinese Campaign Under Lt.-Col. C.G. Gordon ... and of the Suppression of the Tai-ping Rebellion

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W. Blackwood, 1868 - China - 395 pages

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Page 13 - The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the Empire, first ordered well their own States. Wishing to order well their States, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge....
Page 7 - 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. 5. Let the states of Equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail...
Page 6 - Therefore his fame overspreads the Middle kingdom, and extends to all barbarous tribes. Wherever ships and carriages reach ; wherever the strength of man penetrates; wherever the heavens, overshadow and. the earth sustains ; wherever the sun and moon shine ; wherever frosts and dews fall : — all who have blood and breath unfeignedly honour and love him. Hence it is said, —
Page 16 - Heaven sees according as my people see ; Heaven hears according as my people hear.
Page 14 - At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. "At thirty, I stood firm. "At forty, I had no doubts. "At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. "At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. "At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.
Page 10 - Sir, in carrying on your government, why should you use killing at all ? Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend when the wind blows across it.
Page 10 - If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame. "If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good.
Page 11 - This shows that, by gaining the people, the kingdom is gained, and, by losing the people, the kingdom is lost. On this account, the ruler will first take pains about his own virtue. Possessing virtue will give him the people. Possessing the people, will give him the territory. Possessing the territory will give him its wealth. Possessing the wealth, he will have resources for expenditure.
Page 9 - As a sovereign, he rested in benevolence. As a minister, he rested in reverence. As a son, he rested in filial piety. As a father, he rested in kindness. In communication with his subjects, he rested in good faith.
Page 187 - The men have committed no crime, and they have done you good service, and what they have tried to do, viz., escape, is nothing more than any man, or even animal, will do when placed in a situation he does not like. ' The men could have done you great harm, as you will no doubt allow ; they have not done so, and I consider that your Excellencies have reaped great benefit from their assistance. As far as I am personally concerned, it is a matter of indifference whether the men stay or leave ; but as...

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