--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a superior man abandon virtue, how can…" description: "\"If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil the requirements of that name?\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/confucius-164_abandon_if-a-superior-man-abandon-virtue-how-can_2064174.jpg" --- # If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil the… ![“If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil the requirements of that name?” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/confucius-164_abandon_if-a-superior-man-abandon-virtue-how-can_2064174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/confucius-164_abandon_if-a-superior-man-abandon-virtue-how-can_2064174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/confucius-164_abandon_if-a-superior-man-abandon-virtue-how-can_2064174.jpg) > “If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil the requirements of that name?” [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. A person who abandons moral virtue cannot truly embody the title of a superior individual. **In simple terms:** Virtue is essential to true greatness. Key Takeaway Cultivate virtue to live authentically. Themes ethics integrity leadership Mood serious inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - leadership roles - personal development - public service - education - family life Key Concepts Confucianism moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What virtues define your role? - Can reputation survive without moral foundation? A Different Perspective External titles without inner virtue are hollow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon/) [Abandon Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon-virtue-614495/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Man Abandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-abandon-2912019/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Requirements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requirements/) [Superior man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superior-man/) [Superiors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superiors/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Fulfil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-fulfil-3953355/) ## Related quotes > [During the course of our life we now and then enjoy some pleasures so inviting, and have some encounters of so tender a nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/during-the-course-of-our-life-we-now-and-then-enjoy-some-pleasures-so/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I become more and more inclined to sink the minister in the man, and abandon my present calling in toto as a profession... to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-pearse-cranch/i-become-more-and-more-inclined-to-sink-the-minister-in-the-man-and/) [Christopher Pearse Cranch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-pearse-cranch/) > [“Worst is the man who abandon himself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-gupta/worst-is-the-man-who-abandon-himself/) [Amit Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-gupta/) > [“A real man would never abandon his family.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/a-real-man-would-never-abandon-his-family/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [The superior man has nothing to compete for. But if he must compete, he does it in an archery match, wherein he ascends to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-has-nothing-to-compete-for-but-if-he-must-compete-he/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man undergoes three changes. Looked at from a distance, he appears stern; when approached, he is mild; when he is heard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-undergoes-three-changes-looked-at-from-a-distance-he/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [When one cultivates to the utmost the principles of his nature, and exercises them on the principle of reciprocity, he is not far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/when-one-cultivates-to-the-utmost-the-principles-of-his-nature-and/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [When the Superior Man eats he does not try to stuff himself; at rest he does not seek perfect comfort; he is diligent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/when-the-superior-man-eats-he-does-not-try-to-stuff-himself-at-rest/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man \* \* \* in regard to his speech \* \* \* is anxious that it should be sincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-in-regard-to-his-speech-is-anxious-that-it-should-be/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-has-a-dignified-ease-without-pride-the-mean-man-has/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this. In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-does-what-is-proper-to-the-station-in-which-he-is-he/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-acts-before-he-speaks-and-afterwards-speaks/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/therefore-the-superior-man-is-watchful-over-himself-when-he-is-alone/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-does-not-even-for-the-space-of-a-single-meal-act/) [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/) ## 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. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? 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 Abandon quotes > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. 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You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [every subjective phenomenon is essentially connected with a single point of view, and it seems inevitable that an objective, physical theory will abandon that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/every-subjective-phenomenon-is-essentially-connected-with-a-single/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Every great thing starts with an idea, followed by a doubt and finally a resolve to abandon or pursue. 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