Confucius Didn't Say That! : Two for the Road

Time flies. It's been almost two years since I wrote a "Confucius Didn't Say That!" blog post. To be honest, people searching for Confucius quotes and/or their veracity amounts to basically 90% of the traffic on my little home on the internet. So, if that describes you, welcome!   

It's time once again to take another trek into the wacky and weird world of fake Confucius quotes. Today, we will be digging into two fake Confucius quotes that focus on roads or journeys.  

Quote # 1 - "Roads were made for journeys, not destinations"   - Confucius 

This fake quote comes courtesy all over the internet but I noticed it on Parade's "101 of the Best Confucius Quotes and Sayings to Motivate and Inspire You". 

Variations on this quote are borderline cliché to most Americans. I thought this quote was more or less a folk proverb but I was surprised to learn there is an actual quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. It's phrased a little differently than the fake quote, Emerson wrote, "Life is a journey, not a destination". 

So, it appears this fake Confucius quote is likely just a variation and misappropriation of Emerson's quote. Of all the fake Confucius quotes, this might be the least mysterious of them all.  That said, we still need to dig a little deeper and see if there is anything Confucian about the quote. Could there be a similar quote or idea in the Analects? As we have seen in the past, some fake Confucius quotes can express similar concepts and ideas as Confucian philosophy (even if by accident). 

Interestingly, in 4:19 of the Analects, Confucius states almost the exact opposite idea of the Emersonian fake quote: 

The Master said: “While your parents are alive, it is better not to travel far away. If you do travel, you should have a precise destination.”

As always, I use quotes from AC Muller's excellent (and online) translation. 

This implies the destination is actually more important than the journey. That is, don't stray too far from home, dilly-dallying, because your most important obligations are back home. Travel should serve a purpose (the destination) not an end to itself.  

This makes much more sense coming from someone that lived in ancient China, travel wasn't seen as a tool to learn more about oneself and in relation to others. The fake quote "reads" as more of a privileged, modern perspective. From a Confucian perspective, life wasn't about finding yourself or forging your own path to success or self-realization. Life was best understood as the striving to live an ethical life within a framework of clear relationships.  

If you're looking for a Confucian spin on the idea of living one's purpose, maybe a selection from 7:34 might fit the bill:  

"The Master said: “I dare not claim to be a sage or a ren (humane) man. But I strive for these without being disappointed, and I teach without becoming weary. This is what can be said of me...."

Usually at this point in my discussion of the fake quote, I end up trashing it, making fun of it, etc...but I actually like this quote. It resonates well with my 21st-century American soul. It's a good reminder to stop and appreciate the ups, downs, and the adventure that is life. The meaning in our lives comes not from the accomplishments, status or achievements, but in how we live between the "destinations". 

Quote # 2 - "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - Confucius 

As a part-time Confucian blogger (never thought you'd see that in writing, huh?), I was perusing the web for fake Confucius quotes. I saw this one and clicked the link, only to receive four pop-up ads telling me my laptop was compromised and had a virus. It felt a bit ominous, but it felt like a sign I should investigate this fake quote further.

Upon another quick search, I found out this is an actual ancient Chinese quote but of course, it's NOT from Confucius. It's actually from the Dao De Jing. 

If I was a better blogger, I would give you a little background on Daoism and compare and contrast its philosophy in regards to its rivalry with Confucianism, etc., etc. but I'm not going to do that, too much to do, too little time.  

The quote comes from the 64th poem from the Dao De Jing, again from AC Muller, here is the section with the surrounding context:

A thick tree grows from a tiny seed.

A tall building arises from a mound of earth.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.

Contriving, you are defeated;

Grasping, you lose.

 

The sage doesn't contrive, so she isn't beaten.

Not grasping, she doesn't lose.

When people are carrying out their projects

They usually blow it at the end.

Basically, the quote and context speak for itself, this isn't rocket science. The quote reminds us to be patient and recognize that even big projects and goals begin with very small beginnings.  I couldn't find an exact match for this idea but I did find this Confucius quote about the importance of patience:  

[15:27] The Master said: “Clever words disrupt virtue. Lack of patience in small matters leads to the disruption of great plans.”

Again, it feels weird to say it but I like this quote too. Of course, it's on the nose but it's not a bad cliché to keep in mind while working on something that seems insurmountable.

Well, folks, that's two more fake Confucius posts down, a thousand more to go. But remember dear readers, this blog isn't about destinations but the journey, and every blog of a thousand posts begins with single post.