不可夺
The one thing that cannot be taken
三军可夺帅也，匹夫不可夺志也。
An army can be deprived of its general; a common man cannot be deprived of his will.
论语 · 子罕篇
· our translation
For two thousand years this is the line Chinese reaches for when talking about backbone.
两千多年里，中国人说「骨气」时引的就是这一句。名字用「志」，分量全在这里。
志于道
What the will is pointed at matters
志于道，据于德，依于仁，游于艺。
Set your will on the Way, hold to virtue, lean on humaneness, and move freely in the arts.
论语 · 述而篇
· our translation
Four verbs in a row. Setting the will is the first move, not the whole of it.
四个动词排成一句：先是「志」，然后是「据」「依」「游」。立志不是终点，是起点那一格。
气之帅
The will leads
夫志，气之帅也；气，体之充也。
The will is the commander of the vital energy; that energy fills the body.
孟子 · 公孫丑上
· our translation
Mencius puts the will in command: not the strongest person goes furthest, but the one who knows where.
孟子把「志」放在统帅的位置：不是力气最大的人走最远，是知道往哪走的人。
志气弘志笃志志远志清志明志行
In a name
Direction, not ambition.
「志」是方向，不是野心。