Q0292
“Before joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are issued, that is called the…” — The Doctrine of the Mean (The Doctrine of the Mean)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: The Doctrine of the Mean. Theme: order.
English
Before joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are issued, that is called the Mean; when issued and all hit due measure, that is called Harmony.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to The Doctrine of the Mean 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
Philosophers ask whether order is discovered in nature, imposed by rulers, or cultivated through custom. Chaos and creativity stand as its counterparts. This passage enters that discussion through order, desire.
Concepts in this quote
- Order
- Order names cosmos, ritual, law, and the patterned stability that makes shared life possible—or oppressive.
- Desire
- Desire drives action and suffering alike; philosophy asks which desires to educate, restrain, or affirm.
How to cite this quotation
APA: The Doctrine of the Mean. (n.d.). Before joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are issued, that is called the Mean; when issued and all hit due measure, that is called Harmony. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0292
MLA: The Doctrine of the Mean. “Before joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are issued,….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0292.
Chicago: The Doctrine of the Mean. “Before joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are issued,….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0292.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Before joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are issued,…”?
The passage is attributed to The Doctrine of the Mean, The Doctrine of the Mean. The archive attributes this English wording to The Doctrine of the Mean 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 order?
Philosophers ask whether order is discovered in nature, imposed by rulers, or cultivated through custom. Chaos and creativity stand as its counterparts. This passage enters that discussion through order, desire.