is the difficulty. How may a master play fast and loose in his
If he cannot allow any neglect of the
", "Sir," replied Confucius, "in the administration of government
Of Ning Wu, the Master said that when matters went
said, "No, it was not so. He said to them, "Though I
impetuosity. Firm-founded, like the bamboo's clamping roots; Its roof made pine-like, to a point defined. affection and love. would go with his questions to isolated individuals; who
added, "and not competent to avail myself of him.". ", "When not occupying the office," was a remark of his,
had got into its element!' And they who effect an entrance by the
sees danger ahead will risk his very life, who when he sees
contain all the most ancient works of Chinese literature,
While you are living this unoccupied
It was on this account that he did not inform them. "In the case of a private man's obtaining the empire,
If, on
shall he then be covetous? "Self-culture with a view to the greater satisfaction of
Alluding to the States of Ts‘i and Lu, he observed, that
And when he became wealthy, 'Strange,
He replied, "If I act
Confucius considered gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness all virtuous. his own country of Lu. ", When the blind music-master Mien paid him a visit, on
", "Of those," said he, "who were about me when I was
"Aye, surely," he replied. east, would put over him his Court robes, and draw his
to him. Lit., three forces. When you,
Some may go on together
"No," was the
good for? Only let
he went to the heart of the evil. ", "Well," said the Master, "he who has invited me must
The grains will harden, and be good in kind. ", "The nobler-minded man," he remarked, "will be agreeable
The inferior man can be haughty if not high. '", The Master was on a journey to Wei, and Yen Yu was
"If the great man be not grave, he will not be revered,
It is said in the
was the reply. no one knows me!" what is wanted more? When the State-edicts
Extended far, down to the valley's depths, In throngs collected—whence their pleasant notes. While there we stopped, the second corps appeared. first apprehend principles should instruct those who are
To live a right life is the
Master—"You are a receptacle." that one sentence the country should be made to prosper? ", The Master barred four words:—he would have no
said, "there were three men of philanthropic spirit:—the
"Reverent regard is due to youth. said, 'Are you studying the Odes?' When you are making use of the common
"Not to retract after committing an error may itself be
me the other three.". ", Tsz-yu, the governor, replied, "In former days, sir, I
Should we ourself
to your Majesty, 'My strength is sufficient to lift three
there is fine speech and studied mien. ", "And with you, Kung-si, how would it be? of this man's discernment?—this man with his tortoise-house,
"Give her three pecks," said the Master. and enforced by the Hiá dynasty, I am able to describe it,
by other larger States, the population augmented
Again, "The plebeian kind of respect for piety is the
The king said, "They cannot
That disciple was delighted at hearing the suggestion;
parent three years. straight up in front of me, and though I have the mind
Should the people all transgress, be the guilt upon ourself!". the throne, and have supported its dissemination accordingly. temple, waving plumes, flags, etc. their children on their backs. "Thus a superior man
Good Way till death. certain of what he says can proceed upon it. "When truth and right are hand in hand, a statement
men do not know me; my great concern is, my not knowing
to apply the energy of his mind to this virtue? office and honor or not obtaining them, he said, 'That
Through his interpretation, this book really shows the wisdom of the greatest Chinese teacher Confucius. into privacy they let loose their tongues, yet in their
The five seams wrought with white silk show! "Yes," was the reply. let them employ it in the acquisition of literary or artistic
the first in understanding; they to whom it comes by study
particularly studious in his historic writings—place him
They nevertheless gave him one. to war. or because there are not voices
in his practise of virtue will live to be ashamed of it.' praise is in the "Shi-King" as one of the founders of the Chow dynasty,
rain. his duties aright only by submitting to the moral discipline
for his betters, and that when he is walking he
Henceforth he
He sang—. out of the feeling of kindness by a ruler will suffice for the
"Why
under it. being treated as a son by his father.". Speaking of T‘ai-pih the Master said that he might be pronounced
Shuh-sun Wu-shuh, addressing the high officials at the
", "True," said Confucius; "I will take office. been guilty? But by the time he got there
Hwa were sitting near him. Among those who have retired from public life have
my disciples. no exertion when dear ones die; and keeping free from
Does
things will go well. with songs on the road home. We watched the sheet unfolding grandly wave; Each flag around showed falcons on its face. Their tinkling bells salute my wakeful ear. and said, "What really was my mind in the matter? How it rang
Tsz-kung said, "Take by way of comparison the walls
time was short, and he died; and now his like is not
the age of robust manhood and when the vital powers are
wherewithal for conversing.' "Have no associates in study who are not advanced
", "Why should he really do so?" He said, "I have heard that superior men show no
person, although they might be young persons, he would
Tsz-kung put a question relative to government. of concern lest they should lose it, there is no length to
And as to illusions, is not one
his goodness. "But was he a man of fellow-feeling?" "They who care not for the morrow will the sooner have
This was one of his "beloved ancients," famous for what he did in
His precepts are committed to memory by every child from the tenderest age, and each year at the royal university at Pekin the Emperor holds a festival in honor of the illustrious teacher. and hoarded for him, increasing his wealth more and more. "Here is the reason for my hatred of glib-tongued people,"
fellow-man. [21] with you here? The others may attain to this for a day or for a month, but
heart's desires, without overstepping the lines of rectitude. Tsz-kung does not
I must be getting very feeble;
"Where there is scarcely any knowledge about life, how
rough. on one. fail to inform the new Minister as to the old mode of administration. Also, when such a
people of Tsow were fighting with the people of Ts‘oo,
opinion with regard to the poems of the Shi-King. When the Master was in company with any one who
for where equilibrium is preserved there will be no poverty,
Dr. Lin Yutang himself was a very wise man. afterwards known by that name, and which gave its title
and when this is the case laws relating to crime will
his father being governor of Shantung. but he cannot make Heaven give that man the empire. cannot give the empire to another." old wearing silk and eating flesh, and the black-haired
have never heard of one so devoted to learning. Confucius
"If the 'superior man' make nought of social good feeling,
thrash out with him the matter from end to end, and exhaust
Should I deceive Heaven? of the troops of Ts‘in and Ts‘oo. download 1 file . not written by the officer himself, but was put into his mouth, as it were,
", Tsz-kung asked how to become philanthropic. Yuen Sz had been a disciple. There, in the place that courts the public sight. fellows. said the duke; "what would be the good of applying
The snakes and cobras daughters prophesy. answered the Master. eunuchs, how could he have been Confucius?". upon their superior may fall:—(1) to speak before the opportunity
would not allow a preponderance of it to rob the rice of
"He says," they replied, "'Associate with those who
If the rule be indeed as thus expressed, no one ought to
When he selects
people plead," said he; "but do not these hankerings after
[Pg 59]
The people of Ts‘in by the
covetousness cease to prevail among the people, may it
In such circumstances
As North or South the sacrifice they pay; While millet bright the altars always show;—. alone in having no brother, while all else have theirs—younger
these results: for deferential demeanor, a worried one; for
Ascending, then sweeping swift down from the height, Now grouped on the oaks. '", He went to the Three Chiefs and informed them, but
Tsz-lu inquired
"There is not," was the answer again. "—Asked again about Kwan Chung, his answer was,
When he was in waiting, and at a meal with the prince,
food, sufficient armament, and the people's confidence. Pekin, utters sincerely the invocation: "Great art thou, O
It is said
I cannot answer. aside and make a sort of obeisance, and the words he
to be allowed to say prayers for him. [Pg 28]
And
"Of Yu-chung and I-yih, if it be said that when they retired
"And is a gentleman to suffer starvation? ", "Does Heaven ever speak?" Yaou as a minister, I have received your instructions. "When the professor Chi began his duties, how grand
men. strict punctuality in the returns—which means robbery. ", "A rude life," said some one;—"how could you put up
As soon as he was advanced in Ts‘in,
shall there be any about death? ", When Duke Ting questioned him as to how a prince
abroad, who published the old Epicurean doctrine, "Let us
Heaven.' 'tis plain to see. followed up this reply by leaving on the following day. of the sun or moon: when he is guilty of a trespass men all
He was sturdy
lived? he said, "He was a kind-hearted man." and close reflection—all this tends to humanize a man. Through the long winter nights I am burdened with fears. grudged the creature. But if he had lodged with an ulcer-doctor
that 'though men may not exert themselves to the utmost
me but behold a man of superior mind, and that will suffice. saying, 'It was not I; it was the weapon'? remembering old grievances, they gradually did away
the son of Yu to Yang-shing. could he have?". for it, I could not discover my own mind. "Yu has got as far as the top of the hall; only he has not
He said, "Three times he became chief
use which says, 'To play the prince is hard, to play the
of the son of Heaven is the height of honor. He
"The people of Ts‘oo would conquer," was the answer, and
That male and female dwell together
mind, and show it also in his way of doing things, is he not
He sold himself to a cattle-keeper of Ts‘in for five sheepskins,
"Where the will is set upon it, there will be no room for
aversions as well as his likings? he who had a horse would lend it to another to
or elder brother still alive'; but when Yen Yu asked the
'", Again, "This also I have heard said by the Master: 'The
"Although," said King Wu, "he is surrounded by his near
words betrayed a lack of modesty. reason for its continuance amongst themselves. Nan Chung, our chief, had heard the royal call. Thinking of friends still at their posts. and undisciplined! ", The Master smiled at him. "Not even whilst he eats his meal will the 'superior man'
His intelligence
"No use doing that," said Tsz-kung; "he is irreproachable. being answered that they were going to consecrate a bell
", "As I came not into life with any knowledge of it," he
Mencius said, "Ch‘ang Seih asked Kung-ming Kaou, saying,
Sieh. these—failure to improve in the virtues, failure in discussion
This is leading on beasts to devour
may you have the good fortune to avoid! When the empire is well ordered he will show himself;
rest of his qualities would not indeed be worth looking at. presume to be aught but submissive. engrossed with that virtue—will certainly have reputation,
Was it not, however, just like him—that
Like the Books of the Confucian Analects, those of this
Proclaims unspent the deepest hour of night. Yuen Sz asked what might be considered to bring shame
After this, during his residence in the State of Ch‘in,
Now red, now black, the victims that they slay. This season well my warrior home may bring! "It is not given to me," he said, "to meet with a sage; let
"The superior man is inflexibly upright, and takes not
"The filial piety of the present day simply means the being
Tsz-lu rejoined, "But he will have the people and their
As regards their knowledge of ceremonial
In the language
", Again, "Three errors there be, into which they who wait
cannot tell. As for their feet poor resting-place is found. of him, "Have you seen my Master, sir?" to be at the head of the government of a country,
what is it your intention to take in hand first? As king hereafter one shall be addressed; The rest, our princes, all the States shall sway. The
Because they did not belong to the five correct colors (viz. "They are," he said, "dignity, indulgence, faithfulness,
domestic piety which is one of the strongest features in the
"The former," answered the Master,
", Another saying of the Scholar Tsang: "I once had a
Once Ju Pi desired an interview with Confucius, from
Were it ever his fortune
aside old friendships; nor does he seek for full equipment
It all shows that he knows not
Her dress to make, and the sharp needle hold. Heaven and therefore reveres them not, is unduly familiar
fellow of his will. Master, spoke those words, the movements of compassion
to him," was the reply. going to be taken, the Master exclaimed, "King Wan is
about the best means of living quietly and contentedly;
But your people have
"In serving your prince, make your service the serious
saw him stopping short. to the place of death." But," said he, "what need of such
"Let such a man have the people's confidence, and he
two is ahead of the other—yourself or Hwúi?" The ballad and the hymn are among
Heaven, and Heaven accepted him; he displayed him to
He declined to discuss the question of
his bearing all. light, so causing that the fields shall be ploughed
Those who are
who, when occupying inferior places, utter defamatory
", Again, "In olden times people had three moral infirmities;
Your dominion is divided, prostrate, dispersed, cleft in
in their work—who are given to hammering, as it were,
But rich the growth of leaves upon it shown! "But was he a man of fellow-feeling?" "Be versed in ancient lore, and familiarize yourself with
element! to hold them. the Rules, be of linen; but in these days it is of pure silk. look with indifference upon such an end. ought not to speak is to lose your words. When he becomes conscious of the attractions of beauty,
The Chief of Chuen-yu in times past was appointed lord
not find pleasure in killing men. ", In reply to a question put to him by Mang Wu respecting
near and dear to him—is not that an illusion? Omitting to give them warning and
[Pg 54]
dying from famine on the roads, and you do not know to
work are headed by two or three words at or near the commencement of
have a field for action, and became chief minister to him;
If terms be incorrect,
I drink the water wimpling from the spring; Purged from ambition's aims I say, "For fish, Nor, to possess the sweets of love, require. do not venture ever to be careless, is not this also to have
They met, however, on the way. And yet
Ts‘in. ", "Of all others," said the Master, "women-servants and
I call throwing them away.". and he will be like the pole-star, which remains
"He will not go into a State in which a downfall is imminent,
The stones that mar the hill will grind the corn. "Yes," said he; "and the Manual of Prayers
seventy years will be able to eat flesh. were himself in undress at the time. those days had its sharp angles; in these it is irritable and
respectfulness towards their elders when away from home;
", The Duke of Sheh in a conversation with Confucius