Confucian Canon, 722>

722
Ch'ang K'ang retired, and, quite delighted, said, "I asked one thing, and I have got three things. I have heard about the
Odes. I have heard about the rules of Propriety. I have also heard that the superior man maintains a distant reserve
towards his son."
723
The wife of the prince of a state is called by him Fu Zan. She calls herself Hsiao T'ung. The people of the state call her
Chun Fu Zan, and, to the people of other states, they call her K'wa Hsiao Chun. The people of other states also call
her Chun Fu Zan.
724
Yang Ho wished to see Confucius, but Confucius would not go to see him. On this, he sent a present of a pig to
Confucius, who, having chosen a time when Ho was not at home went to pay his respects for the gift. He met him,
however, on the way.
725
Ho said to Confucius, "Come, let me speak with you." He then asked, "Can he be called benevolent who keeps his
jewel in his bosom, and leaves his country to confusion?" Confucius replied, "No." "Can he be called wise, who is
anxious to be engaged in public employment, and yet is constantly losing the opportunity of being so?" Confucius again
said, "No." "The days and months are passing away; the years do not wait for us." Confucius said, "Right; I will go into
office."
726
The Master said, "By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart."
727
The Master said, "There are only the wise of the highest class, and the stupid of the lowest class, who cannot be
changed."
728
The Master, having come to Wu-ch'ang, heard there the sound of stringed instruments and singing.
729
Well pleased and smiling, he said, "Why use an ox knife to kill a fowl?"
730
Tsze-yu replied, "Formerly, Master, I heard you say,-'When the man of high station is well instructed, he loves men;
when the man of low station is well instructed, he is easily ruled.'"
731
The Master said, "My disciples, Yen's words are right. What I said was only in sport."
732
Kung-shan Fu-zao, when he was holding Pi, and in an attitude of rebellion, invited the Master to visit him, who was
rather inclined to go.
733
Tsze-lu was displeased. and said, "Indeed, you cannot go! Why must you think of going to see Kung-shan?"
734
The Master said, "Can it be without some reason that he has invited ME? If any one employ me, may I not make an
eastern Chau?"
735
Tsze-chang asked Confucius about perfect virtue. Confucius said, "To be able to practice five things everywhere under
heaven constitutes perfect virtue." He begged to ask what they were, and was told, "Gravity, generosity of soul,
sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. If you are grave, you will not be treated with disrespect. If you are generous, you
will win all. If you are sincere, people will repose trust in you. If you are earnest, you will accomplish much. If you are
kind, this will enable you to employ the services of others.
736
Pi Hsi inviting him to visit him, the Master was inclined to go.
737
Tsze-lu said, "Master, formerly I have heard you say, 'When a man in his own person is guilty of doing evil, a superior
man will not associate with him.' Pi Hsi is in rebellion, holding possession of Chung-mau; if you go to him, what shall be
said?"
738
The Master said, "Yes, I did use these words. But is it not said, that, if a thing be really hard, it may be ground without
being made thin? Is it not said, that, if a thing be really white, it may be steeped in a dark fluid without being made
black?
Confucian Analects : texts 698 - 738
Confucian Analects : texts 739 - 779
739
"Am I a bitter gourd? How can I be hung up out of the way of being eaten?"
740
The Master said, "Yu, have you heard the six words to which are attached six becloudings?" Yu replied, "I have not."
741
"Sit down, and I will tell them to you.
742
"There is the love of being benevolent without the love of learning;-the beclouding here leads to a foolish simplicity.
There is the love of knowing without the love of learning;-the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind. There is the
love of being sincere without the love of learning;-the beclouding here leads to an injurious disregard of consequences.
There is the love of straightforwardness without the love of learning;-the beclouding here leads to rudeness. There is
the love of boldness without the love of learning;-the beclouding here leads to insubordination. There is the love of
firmness without the love of learning;-the beclouding here leads to extravagant conduct."
743
The Master said, "My children, why do you not study the Book of Poetry?
744
"The Odes serve to stimulate the mind.
745
"They may be used for purposes of self-contemplation.
746
"They teach the art of sociability.
747
"They show how to regulate feelings of resentment.
748
"From them you learn the more immediate duty of serving one's father, and the remoter one of serving one's prince.
749
"From them we become largely acquainted with the names of birds, beasts, and plants."
750
The Master said to Po-yu, "Do you give yourself to the Chau-nan and the Shao-nan. The man who has not studied the
Chau-nan and the Shao-nan is like one who stands with his face right against a wall. Is he not so?" The Master said,
"'It is according to the rules of propriety,' they say.-'It is according to the rules of propriety,' they say. Are gems and
silk all that is meant by propriety? 'It is music,' they say.-'It is music,' they say. Are hers and drums all that is meant by
music?"
751
The Master said, "He who puts on an appearance of stern firmness, while inwardly he is weak, is like one of the small,
mean people;-yea, is he not like the thief who breaks through, or climbs over, a wall?"
752
The Master said, "Your good, careful people of the villages are the thieves of virtue."
753
The Master said, To tell, as we go along, what we have heard on the way, is to cast away our virtue."
754
The Master said, "There are those mean creatures! How impossible it is along with them to serve one's prince!
755
"While they have not got their aims, their anxiety is how to get them. When they have got them, their anxiety is lest they
should lose them.
756
"When they are anxious lest such things should be lost, there is nothing to which they will not proceed."
757
The Master said, "Anciently, men had three failings, which now perhaps are not to be found.
758
"The high-mindedness of antiquity showed itself in a disregard of small things; the high-mindedness of the present day
shows itself in wild license. The stern dignity of antiquity showed itself in grave reserve; the stern dignity of the present
day shows itself in quarrelsome perverseness. The stupidity of antiquity showed itself in straightforwardness; the
stupidity of the present day shows itself in sheer deceit."
759
The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with virtue."