Confucian Canon 91-120

91
The Duke Ting asked how a prince should employ his ministers, and how ministers should serve their prince.
Confucius replied, "A prince should employ his minister according to according to the rules of propriety; ministers
should serve their prince with faithfulness."
92
The Master said, "The Kwan Tsu is expressive of enjoyment without being licentious, and of grief without being
hurtfully excessive."
93
The Duke Ai asked Tsai Wo about the altars of the spirits of the land. Tsai Wo replied, "The Hsia sovereign planted
the pine tree about them; the men of the Yin planted the cypress; and the men of the Chau planted the chestnut tree,
meaning thereby to cause the people to be in awe."
94
When the Master heard it, he said, "Things that are done, it is needless to speak about; things that have had their
course, it is needless to remonstrate about; things that are past, it is needless to blame."
95
The Master said, "Small indeed was the capacity of Kwan Chung!"
96
Some one said, "Was Kwan Chung parsimonious?" "Kwan," was the reply, "had the San Kwei, and his officers
performed no double duties; how can he be considered parsimonious?"
97
"Then, did Kwan Chung know the rules of propriety?" The Master said, "The princes of States have a screen
intercepting the view at their gates. Kwan had likewise a screen at his gate. The princes of States on any friendly
meeting between two of them, had a stand on which to place their inverted cups. Kwan had also such a stand. If
Kwan knew the rules of propriety, who does not know them?"
98
The Master instructing the grand music master of Lu said, "How to play music may be known. At the commencement
of the piece, all the parts should sound together. As it proceeds, they should be in harmony while severally distinct and
flowing without break, and thus on to the conclusion."
99
The border warden at Yi requested to be introduced to the Master, saying, "When men of superior virtue have come
to this, I have never been denied the privilege of seeing them." The followers of the sage introduced him, and when he
came out from the interview, he said, "My friends, why are you distressed by your master's loss of office? The
kingdom has long been without the principles of truth and right; Heaven is going to use your master as a bell with its
wooden tongue."
100
The Master said of the Shao that it was perfectly beautiful and also perfectly good. He said of the Wu that it was
perfectly beautiful but not perfectly good.
101
The Master said, "High station filled without indulgent generosity; ceremonies performed without reverence; mourning
conducted without sorrow;-wherewith should I contemplate such ways?"
102
The Master said, "It is virtuous manners which constitute the excellence of a neighborhood. If a man in selecting a
residence do not fix on one where such prevail, how can he be wise?"
103
The Master said, "Those who are without virtue cannot abide long either in a condition of poverty and hardship, or in a
condition of enjoyment. The virtuous rest in virtue; the wise desire virtue."
104
The Master said, "It is only the truly virtuous man, who can love, or who can hate, others."
105
The Master said, "If the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice of wickedness."
106
The Master said, "Riches and honors are what men desire. If they cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should
not be held. Poverty and meanness are what men dislike. If they cannot be avoided in the proper way, they should not
be avoided.
107
"If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfill the requirements of that name?
108
"The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves
to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it."
109
The Master said, "I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved
virtue, would esteem nothing above it. He who hated what is not virtuous, would practice virtue in such a way that he
would not allow anything that is not virtuous to approach his person.
110
"Is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue? I have not seen the case in which his strength would be
insufficient.
111
"Should there possibly be any such case, I have not seen it."
112
The Master said, "The faults of men are characteristic of the class to which they belong. By observing a man's faults, it
may be known that he is virtuous."
113
The Master said, "If a man in the morning hear the right way, he may die in the evening hear regret."
114
The Master said, "A scholar, whose mind is set on truth, and who is ashamed of bad clothes and bad food, is not fit to
be discoursed with."
115
The Master said, "The superior man, in the world, does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is
right he will follow."
116
The Master said, "The superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort. The superior man thinks of the
sanctions of law; the small man thinks of favors which he may receive."
117
The Master said: "He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against."
118
The Master said, "If a prince is able to govern his kingdom with the complaisance proper to the rules of propriety,
what difficulty will he have? If he cannot govern it with that complaisance, what has he to do with the rules of
propriety?"
119
The Master said, "A man should say, I am not concerned that I have no place, I am concerned how I may fit myself
for one. I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be known."
120
The Master said, "Shan, my doctrine is that of an all-pervading unity." The disciple Tsang replied, "Yes."