Let’s Educate and Not Corrupt Qualities: Anna Hakobyan

Anna Hakobyan has quoted Confucius on her social media page:

“One of the students said: ‘A person of high virtue first wins the trust of people, and only then mobilizes them. Without this trust, people will feel maliciously used. A person of high virtue first wins the trust of their prince, and only then criticizes them. Without this trust, the prince will feel slandered.’ - The Text of The Analects, Chapter 19, 19.10.

The Duke asked Confucius: ‘What should I do to make people respectful, loyal, and diligent?’ The Master replied, ‘Treat them with dignity, and they will be respectful. Be a good father and a good child yourself, and they will be loyal. Give space to the strong and educate the incapable, and they will be diligent.’ - The Text of The Analects, Chapter 2, 2.20.

The Master said, ‘If someone can govern the country by adhering to values and showing respect, then there is nothing to add to this. If someone cannot govern while adhering to values and showing respect, then what is the meaning of values at all?’ - The Text of The Analects, Chapter 4, 4.13.

The Master said to his disciple: ‘Have you heard about the six virtues and their six corruptions?’ - ‘No.’ - ‘Sit down, I will explain it to you now. This is how it goes: 1. Humanity: without education, it turns into ignorance. 2. Intellect: without education, it turns into frivolity. 3. Chivalry: without education, it turns into banditry. 4. Sincerity: without education, it turns into cruelty. 5. Courage: without education, it turns into violence. 6. Strength: without education, it degenerates into anarchy.’ - The Text of The Analects, Chapter 17, 17.8.

Note: And again, while reading, we must always keep in mind that these thoughts were expressed 2570 years ago. This will compel us to reconsider the extreme importance with which we pamper ourselves and our gigantic ego. It will compel us to measure the wisdom we acquire over the 50-60 years of our conscious life, of which we devote hardly 15 years to education. Finally, it will compel us to realize how fleeting and insignificant our existence is, and how ancient and lasting is the vice by which we live, wasting our small and insignificant life.

2570 years after Confucius, let us educate ourselves and refine ourselves, let us educate and be endowed with high virtues, let us educate and acquire quality, let us educate and not corrupt qualities, education is fashionable,” wrote Anna Hakobyan, the wife of the Prime Minister of Armenia.