what old journal entries reveal

“If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; if this remains undone, morals and art will deteriorate; if justice goes astray, the people will stand about in helpless confusion. Hence there must be no arbitrariness in what is said. This matters above everything.”

That was written on the chalkboard on the first day of my 7th grade English class. I always thought Mr. Porter made it up. Just discovered it was Confucius. Must not have been paying attention. My bad.