Q0154
“Study extensively, inquire carefully, think prudently, discriminate clearly, and practice earnestly.” — The Doctrine of the Mean (Liji, Zhongyong)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Liji, Zhongyong. Theme: learning.
English
Study extensively, inquire carefully, think prudently, discriminate clearly, and practice earnestly.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Liji, Zhongyong and files it under Confucianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About The Doctrine of the Mean
The Doctrine of the Mean appears in this archive through verified English quotations associated with the Confucianism tradition. Biographical certainty varies by figure and text; where the “author” is a scripture or school anthology, read the name as a traditional attribution rather than a modern individual biography.
How to read this passage
Education is not only information transfer; it is the shaping of attention and character. Confucian learning, Socratic midwifery, and Deweyan growth offer rival models. This passage enters that discussion through learning, inquiry, practice.
Concepts in this quote
- Learning
- Learning is philosophy’s practical twin: how judgment is formed through study, error, dialogue, and habit.
- Inquiry
- Inquiry is the disciplined pursuit of better questions and answers—philosophy as method rather than dogma.
- Practice
- Practice is where thought becomes habit: philosophy as a way of living, training, and repeated action.
How to cite this quotation
APA: The Doctrine of the Mean. (n.d.). Study extensively, inquire carefully, think prudently, discriminate clearly, and practice earnestly. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0154
MLA: The Doctrine of the Mean. “Study extensively, inquire carefully, think prudently, discriminate clearly,….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0154.
Chicago: The Doctrine of the Mean. “Study extensively, inquire carefully, think prudently, discriminate clearly,….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0154.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Study extensively, inquire carefully, think prudently, discriminate clearly,…”?
The passage is attributed to The Doctrine of the Mean, Liji, Zhongyong. The archive attributes this English wording to Liji, Zhongyong and files it under Confucianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does The Doctrine of the Mean mean by learning?
Education is not only information transfer; it is the shaping of attention and character. Confucian learning, Socratic midwifery, and Deweyan growth offer rival models. This passage enters that discussion through learning, inquiry, practice.