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Published 
Author  Huali Yuan

What kind of learning was Confucius fond of?

Confucius was a life-long learner. He considered himself as one not born with knowledge, but instead fond of learning. The Analects,?a collection of dialogues between Confucius and his students, renders a fresh perspective of what learning is and what learning entails. According to Confucius, the motivation of learning is not to impress others, but to improve oneself; and learning involves not merely accumulating knowledge, but requires considerable self-cultivation. For example, he described one of his students who loved learning as someone who would never vent his frustration upon others nor make the same mistake twice. He also commented, ¡°A gentleman (j¨±n z¨« ¾ý×Ó) eats without stuffing his belly;…is diligent in his office and prudent in his speech; seeks the company of the virtuous in order to straighten his own way. Of such a man, one may truly say that he is fond of learning.¡± In these conversations, Confucius illustrates how learning involves much more than simply engaging in intellectual inquiry, instead it entails refining one¡¯s own character through daily activities until the light of humanity (r¨¦n ÈÊ£©shines forth.