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A young man should serve his parents at home and be respectful to elders outside his home. He should be earnest and truthful, loving all, but become intimate with humaneness.
The Analects, Book I, Chapter 6
Translated by James Legge · Literature and scripture
✓ Checked against the sources below

What this means, and why it matters to a father

These are some of the earliest recorded words of Confucius in the Analects — placed almost at the opening of the text, spoken to young men beginning their formation. Confucius believed character was built through ordered relationships, starting at home.

There is more to this one. The full context — the events behind the words, what the author was living through, and how it applies to the specific situations of fatherhood — is in the app under Deeper Understanding.

Read the full context in DadVice

Sources

Related themes

guidancewisdomresponsibilityintegrity

The right words for exactly where you are right now.

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