--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A knight whose heart is set upon the Way…" description: "\"A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.\" — Co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/confucius-164_ashamed_a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way_2438084.jpg" --- # A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is… ![“A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/confucius-164_ashamed_a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way_2438084.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/confucius-164_ashamed_a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way_2438084.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/confucius-164_ashamed_a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way_2438084.jpg) > “A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True worth lies in inner virtue, not external appearance or material comforts. **In simple terms:** Character matters more than looks or wealth. Key Takeaway Focus on inner growth, not superficial status. Themes virtue humility integrity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - leadership selection - personal development - team building - cultural expectations Key Concepts Confucian ethics inner merit social judgment Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess someone's true character? - What role should appearance play in leadership? A Different Perspective External symbols can mislead judgments of competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Ashamed Wearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed-wearing-462107/) [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Coarse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coarse/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knight/) [Knight Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knight-heart-462106/) [Knights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knights/) [Shabby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shabby/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wearing Shabby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wearing-shabby-462108/) ## Related quotes > [He who needs only coarse food, water and drink, and as pillow his folded arms will find happiness without further search.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/he-who-needs-only-coarse-food-water-and-drink-and-as-pillow-his/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bent arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/with-coarse-rice-to-eat-with-water-to-drink-and-my-bent-arm-for-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Coarse rice to eat, water to drink, my bended arm for a pillow - therein is happiness. Wealth and rank attained through immoral means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/coarse-rice-to-eat-water-to-drink-my-bended-arm-for-a-pillow-therein/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I feel shabby - because I've made a name, quite a good name, out of photography. And I still find myself asking the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-feel-shabby-because-i-ve-made-a-name-quite-a-good-name-out-of/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [It is a wonderful advantage to a man, in every pursuite or avocation, to secure an adviser in a sensible woman. In woman there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/it-is-a-wonderful-advantage-to-a-man-in-every-pursuite-or-avocation/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Wise kings wear shabby clothes, and leave the gold lace to the drum major.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/wise-kings-wear-shabby-clothes-and-leave-the-gold-lace-to-the-drum/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The evening before my departure for Blithedale, I was returning to my bachelor-apartments, after attending the wonderful exhibition of the Veiled Lady, when an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-evening-before-my-departure-for-blithedale-i-was-returning-to-my/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [It is curious, isn't it, that things you know well never look dirty and dilapidated-other people's old furniture looks shabby and moth-eaten. “I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/it-is-curious-isn-t-it-that-things-you-know-well-never-look-dirty-and/) [D.E. 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Indian gatherings are marked by laughter and jokes, many directed at the horrors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-gunn-allen/humor-is-widely-used-by-indians-to-deal-with-life-indian-gatherings/) [Paula Gunn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-gunn-allen/) > [I was haunted always by my other life-my drab room in the Bronx, my square foot of the subway, my fixation upon the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-was-haunted-always-by-my-other-life-my-drab-room-in-the-bronx-my/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. 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The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) [Robert Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-preston/) > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. 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Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. 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And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way-but-who-is-ashamed-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ashamed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way-but-who-is-ashamed-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/confucius-164_ashamed_a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way_2438084.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/confucius-164_ashamed_a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way_2438084.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/confucius-164_ashamed_a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way_2438084.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse…” — Confucius", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Confucius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A knight whose heart is set...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way-but-who-is-ashamed-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-knight-whose-heart-is-set-upon-the-way-but-who-is-ashamed-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```