Confucius Learning from The Book of Changes
 
One day, Confucius was reading the book Yi (also called Zhou Yi or Yi Jing and translated as The Book of Changes). He heaved several sighs when reading the chapter that dealt with predictions of bad or good luck.
 
Zixia, one of his students, noticing him sighing, approached and asked, “Teacher, why did you sigh?”
 
Confucius replied, “I enlightened a lot from the wisdom in the Yi. It told me that people who perceived insufficiencies in themselves will receive benefits and conceited people will face difficulties. That’s why I sighed in admiration.”
 
Zixia asked, “Can they not receive benefits from studying?”
 
Confucius answered, “No. The heaven’s laws would not allow such a success to be long-lasting.” Confucius' words mean that success can be fleeting. If people study hard and with a humble attitude, they are likely to learn more. But if they are not humble in seeking knowledge, even if they realize their own shortcomings, no amount of knowledge will do them any good.
 
Confucius continued, “When Yao became the emperor, he still treated others with respect and humility, and was strict with himself. His country was stronger after a hundred years and his merits are known even today. Kunwu (a chieftain of the Xia Dynasty) regarded himself as infallible. When he reached the highest position, his greed continued, and soon he fell. Today, people have even more hatred for him. Isn’t this proof of harm and benefit? A humble attitude is the key to maintaining one’s position.
 
Everything goes in cycles. When the sun is at its brightest at noontime, it is also when it begins its decline. When the moon is full, it is about to start on its way to being a crescent.
 
A sage should not become arrogant. When there are three people in a carriage, he should step out and let the others ride. If there are two people, he should be courteous and respectful to the other. He needs to be willing to adjust his behavior to suit the situation, and only thus would he be a sage for a long time.”
 
Zixia listened carefully to Confucius’ lecture and said, “Good! I will remember what you taught me for the rest of my life.”
 
圣贤们是怎样学习的
 
有一天，孔子读《易》（又称周易、易经），读到损卦、益卦时，就接连发出了感叹的声音。
 
子夏听到后，便起身离座，问道：“老师，您为了什么而感叹呀?”
 
孔子回答说：“我从易经中的损卦、益卦里，受到很大的启发：那些自认为不足的人，会得到补益；而那些自满狂傲的人，便会有损坏。我因此而感叹。”
 
子夏问：“那么通过学习，就不能得到补益吗?”孔子说：“‘否！天之道：成者未尝得久也！’这句话的意思是：不能这么讲！上天的规律即宇宙的法则是：成功了的好事情，未必能够长久。那学习的人，如果是以谦虚的态度，来接受知识，就会有所得。假若不懂得采取谦虚的态度，就是自认为不足，那么天下的好言论，就不能进入他的耳朵和心中了。从前，唐尧登上天子的高位，仍然恭敬虔诚的来自律，用谦虚恬静的态度，来对待臣民，所以他的事业，经过百年而更加兴盛；他的德泽，直到今天越发昌明。昆吾（指夏朝的部落君主）自以为是，志得意满，他登上最高处，贪欲仍不停止，因此在当时就受到挫败，到今天更加使人憎恶。这难道不是损、益的证明吗？所以我说：‘谦虚的态度，就能用来保存自己的地位。’丰卦说：要趁日中时行动，因为那时光明普照，所以能算得上是丰大；如果已达到丰大时，便会开始亏缺了。因此说，太阳到了中午就开始偏西，月亮圆了就开始变缺；天地的盈满空虚，按照一定的时间彼消此长。因此圣人不敢自负盛名，他坐在车上遇见三个人时，就下车；遇见两个人时，就扶轼表示礼敬，主动调节那盈满与空虚的关系，所以盛名能够长久。”
 
子夏听完孔子的话，敬诚的说：“好！我一定终身记住您的这番教诲。”