Q0155
“Sincerity is the Way of Heaven; making oneself sincere is the way…” — The Doctrine of the Mean (Liji, Zhongyong)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Liji, Zhongyong. Theme: god.
English
Sincerity is the Way of Heaven; making oneself sincere is the way of human beings.
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
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Maimonides and Saadia Gaon), god is framed through Jewish Rationalism and Islamic Philosophy. Some passages define god; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through god, humanity.
Concepts in this quote
- God
- God appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat god as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
- Humanity
- Humanity names both the species and the moral quality of being humane—bridging anthropology and ethics.
How to cite this quotation
APA: The Doctrine of the Mean. (n.d.). Sincerity is the Way of Heaven; making oneself sincere is the way of human beings. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0155
MLA: The Doctrine of the Mean. “Sincerity is the Way of Heaven; making oneself….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0155.
Chicago: The Doctrine of the Mean. “Sincerity is the Way of Heaven; making oneself….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0155.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Sincerity is the Way of Heaven; making oneself…”?
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 god?
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Maimonides and Saadia Gaon), god is framed through Jewish Rationalism and Islamic Philosophy. Some passages define god; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through god, humanity.