He then added, “But what is the necessity for a complete man of the present day to have all these things? The man, who in the view of gain, thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends:—such a man may be reckoned a complete man.”
XIV
The Master asked Kung-ming Chiâ about Kung-shû Wǎn, saying, “Is it true that your master speaks not, laughs not, and takes not?”
Kung-ming Chiâ replied, “This has arisen from the reporters going beyond the truth.—My master speaks when it is the time to speak, and so men do not get tired of his speaking. He laughs when there is occasion to be joyful, and so men do not get tired of his laughing. He takes when it is consistent with righteousness to do so, and so men do not get tired of his taking.” The Master said, “So! But is it so with him?”
XV
The Master said, “Tsǎng Wû-chung, keeping possession of Fang, asked of the duke of Lû to appoint a successor to him in his family. Although it may be said that he was not using force with his sovereign, I believe he was.”
XVI
The Master said, “The duke Wǎn of Tsin was crafty and not upright. The duke Hwan of Ch’î was upright and not crafty.”
XVII
Tsze-lû said, “The Duke Hwan caused his brother Chiû to be killed, when Shâo Hû died with his master, but Kwan Chung did not die. May not I say that he was wanting in virtue?”
The Master said, “The Duke Hwan assembled all the princes together, and that not with weapons of war and chariots:—it was all through the influence of Kwan Chung. Whose beneficence was like his? Whose beneficence was like his?”
XVIII
Tsze-kung said, “Kwan Chung, I apprehend, was wanting in virtue. When the Duke Hwan caused his brother Chiû to be killed, Kwan Chung was not able to die with him. Moreover, he became prime minister to Hwan.”
The Master said, “Kwan Chung acted as prime minister to the Duke Hwan, made him leader of all the princes, and united and rectified the whole kingdom. Down to the present day, the people enjoy the gifts which he conferred. But for Kwan Chung, we should now be wearing our hair unbound, and the lappets of our coats buttoning on the left side.
“Will you require from him the small fidelity of common men and common women, who would commit suicide in a stream or ditch, no one knowing anything about them?”
XIX
The great officer, Hsien, who had been family-minister to Kung-shû Wǎn, ascended to the prince’s court in company with Wǎn.
The Master, having heard of it, said, “He deserved to be considered wǎn (the accomplished).”
XX
The Master was speaking about the unprincipled course of the duke Ling of Wei, when Ch’î K’ang said, “Since he is of such a character, how is it he does not lose his State?”
Confucius said, “The Chung-shû Yü has the superintendence of his guests and of strangers; the litanist, T’o, has the management of his ancestral temple; and Wang-sun Chiâ has the direction of the army and forces:—with such officers as these, how should he lose his State?”
XXI
The Master said, “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”
XXII
Chan Ch’ǎng murdered the Duke Chien of Ch’î.
Confucius bathed, went to court, and informed the duke Âi, saying, “Chan Hang has slain his sovereign. I beg that you will undertake to punish him.”
The duke said, “Inform the chiefs of the three families of it.”
Confucius retired, and said, “Following in the rear of the great officers, I did not dare not to represent such a matter, and my prince says, ‘Inform the chiefs of the three families of it.’ ”
He went to the chiefs, and informed them, but they would not act. Confucius then said, “Following in the rear of the great officers, I did not dare not to represent such a matter.”
XXIII
Tsze-lû asked how a ruler should be served. The Master said, “Do not impose on him, and, moreover, withstand him to his face.”
XXIV
The Master said, “The progress of the superior man is upwards; the progress of the mean man is downwards.”
XXV
The Master said, “In ancient times, men learned with a view to their own improvement. Nowadays, men learn with a view to the approbation of others.”
XXVI
Chü Po-yü sent a messenger with friendly inquiries to Confucius.
Confucius sat with him, and questioned him. “What,” said he, “is your master engaged in?” The messenger replied, “My master is anxious to make his faults few, but he has not yet succeeded.” He then went out, and the Master said, “A messenger indeed! A messenger indeed!”
XXVII
The Master said, “He who is not in any particular office, has nothing to do with plans for the administration of its duties.”
XXVIII
The philosopher Tsǎng said, “The superior man, in his thoughts, does not go out of his place.”
XXIX
The Master said, “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
XXX
The Master said, “The way of the superior man is threefold, but I am not equal to it. Virtuous, he is free from anxieties; wise, he is free from perplexities; bold, he is free from fear.”
Tsze-kung said, “Master, that is what you yourself say.”
XXXI
Tsze-kung was in the habit of comparing men
