Column Chronicles: Son of Confucius, part one

Son of Confucius, part one

Frank Cotolo
March 17, 2016

Confucius, the perennitally quoted Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period in China, is said to have had a successor. The man, who demanded to be known publicly as Confucius, Jr., claimed a number of different connections to his namesake, including being his son. That claim was never confirmed.

In 477 BC, two years after the recorded death of Confucius, the self-named Confucius, Jr. published a book-length list of philosophical teachings that mirrored the style of Confucius. It would be the first of hundreds of works "Junior" released that were lost in a wave of public disinterest. The works were found only recently in an archeologic dig that discovered the burial site of Kong Li, the first child of Confucius.

Over the course of a soon-to-be-determined period, we will publish the works of Junior and let the readers judge the potency of his works as compared to his so-called father.

However slowly one travels, the time of arrival will be the same.

A complicated life is usually a simple life that is weighed down with details that don't make it look simple.

When you love a job you have, work is still necessary.

Success can be defined as that which is free of failure.

Knowledge is not all that one knows, it is all that is known by one. Or many, for that matter.

Poverty is never an option if wealth is eternal.

To be generous is to give more than one has to give, unless that which is given has been stolen.

Bees make the honey that sweetens the bitter water which, when mixed with tea, is a pleasant beverage.

Today's genius is tomorrow's dummy.

Nothing determines determination like determination.

Death during sun setting over horizon is like man eating bird but choking on worm.

Crack on deck of boat is only dangerous when sailing.

...to be continued.

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.