Confucius Revisited

My nephew, Peanut, has recently gone the way of his infamous grandmother, the inimitable Baby Belle, and begun developing quite a beard. (A picture of the magnificent beard of Baby Belle can be viewed here. ) Of course it hasn't reached epic proportions as yet, but he is, however, still young. Everyone is jealous - even me. None of the rest of us has managed to grow anything more than a few hairs. Point of fact, they are so miserable the goatmother usually just cuts them off.

Anyway, you may be reminded that Watson, after developing a beard, of sorts, has since gone about blithely spouting Confucianisms and proudly displaying his meager attempt at a beard. Once he saw what Peanut had managed, he walked about for days saying things like, "What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.", and "Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.", or "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue." It's gotten a bit old to say the least.

So finally, Peanut got up on our rock, looked down at Watson and proceeded to let him know what we've all been thinking. "Look, *Confucius*, 'Much talking is the cause of danger. Silence is the means of avoiding misfortune ... ' - Saskya Pandita."

"The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered ... " Besides, "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do."

And for a fainting goat, I guess that's saying a lot. Oy vey.