Confucian Canon, 688>

688
The Master said, "Yes. This is certainly the rule for those who lead the blind."
689
The head of the Chi family was going to attack Chwan-yu.
690
Zan Yu and Chi-lu had an interview with Confucius, and said, "Our chief, Chil is going to commence operations against
Chwan-yu."
691
Confucius said, "Ch'iu, is it not you who are in fault here?
692
"Now, in regard to Chwan-yu, long ago, a former king appointed its ruler to preside over the sacrifices to the eastern
Mang; moreover, it is in the midst of the territory of our state; and its ruler is a minister in direct connection with the
sovereign: What has your chief to do with attacking it?"
693
Zan Yu said, "Our master wishes the thing; neither of us two ministers wishes it."
694
Confucius said, "Ch'iu, there are the words of Chau Zan, -'When he can put forth his ability, he takes his place in the
ranks of office; when he finds himself unable to do so, he retires from it. How can he be used as a guide to a blind
man, who does not support him when tottering, nor raise him up when fallen?'
695
"And further, you speak wrongly. When a tiger or rhinoceros escapes from his cage; when a tortoise or piece of jade
is injured in its repository:-whose is the fault?"
696
Zan Yu said, "But at present, Chwan-yu is strong and near to Pi; if our chief do not now take it, it will hereafter be a
sorrow to his descendants."
697
Confucius said. "Ch'iu, the superior man hates those declining to say-'I want such and such a thing,' and framing
explanations for their conduct.
Confucian Analects : texts 657 - 697
Confucian Analects : texts 698 - 738
698
"I have heard that rulers of states and chiefs of families are not troubled lest their people should be few, but are
troubled lest they should not keep their several places; that they are not troubled with fears of poverty, but are troubled
with fears of a want of contented repose among the people in their several places. For when the people keep their
several places, there will be no poverty; when harmony prevails, there will be no scarcity of people; and when there is
such a contented repose, there will be no rebellious upsettings.
699
"So it is.-Therefore, if remoter people are not submissive, all the influences of civil culture and virtue are to be
cultivated to attract them to be so; and when they have been so attracted, they must be made contented and tranquil.
700
"Now, here are you, Yu and Ch'iu, assisting your chief. Remoter people are not submissive, and, with your help, he
cannot attract them to him. In his own territory there are divisions and downfalls, leavings and separations, and, with
your help, he cannot preserve it.
701
"And yet he is planning these hostile movements within the state.-I am afraid that the sorrow of the Chi-sun family will
not be on account of Chwan-yu, but will be found within the screen of their own court."
702
Confucius said, "When good government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive military expeditions
proceed from the son of Heaven. When bad government prevails in the empire, ceremonies, music, and punitive
military expeditions proceed from the princes. When these things proceed from the princes, as a rule, the cases will be
few in which they do not lose their power in ten generations. When they proceed from the great officers of the princes,
as a rule, the case will be few in which they do not lose their power in five generations. When the subsidiary ministers
of the great officers hold in their grasp the orders of the state, as a rule the cases will be few in which they do not lose
their power in three generations.
703
"When right principles prevail in the kingdom, government will not be in the hands of the great officers.
704
"When right principles prevail in the kingdom, there will be no discussions among the common people."
705
Confucius said, "The revenue of the state has left the ducal house now for five generations. The government has been in
the hands of the great officers for four generations. On this account, the descendants of the three Hwan are much
reduced."
706
Confucius said, "There are three friendships which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Friendship with the
uplight; friendship with the sincere; and friendship with the man of much observation:-these are advantageous.
Friendship with the man of specious airs; friendship with the insinuatingly soft; and friendship with the
glib-tongued:-these are injurious."
707
Confucius said, "There are three things men find enjoyment in which are advantageous, and three things they find
enjoyment in which are injurious. To find enjoyment in the discriminating study of ceremonies and music; to find
enjoyment in speaking of the goodness of others; to find enjoyment in having many worthy friends:-these are
advantageous. To find enjoyment in extravagant pleasures; to find enjoyment in idleness and sauntering; to find
enjoyment in the pleasures of feasting:-these are injurious."
708
Confucius said, "There are three errors to which they who stand in the presence of a man of virtue and station are
liable. They may speak when it does not come to them to speak;-this is called rashness. They may not speak when it
comes to them to speak;-this is called concealment. They may speak without looking at the countenance of their
superior;-this is called blindness."
709
Confucius said, "There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth, when the physical powers are
not yet settled, he guards against lust. When he is strong and the physical powers are full of vigor, he guards against
quarrelsomeness. When he is old, and the animal powers are decayed, he guards against covetousness."
710
Confucius said, "There are three things of which the superior man stands in awe. He stands in awe of the ordinances of
Heaven. He stands in awe of great men. He stands in awe of the words of sages.