The Analects Chapter 8
The Master said, "T'ai-po may be said to have reached the highestpoint of virtuous1 action. Thrice he declined the kingdom, and thepeople in ignorance of his motives2 could not express their approbationof his conduct."The Master said, "Respectfulness, without the rules of propriety3,becomes laborious4 bustle5; carefulness, without the rules of propriety,becomes timidity; boldness, without the rules of propriety, becomesinsubordination; straightforwardness6, without the rules of propriety,becomes rudeness.
"When those who are in high stations perform well all their dutiesto their relations, the people are aroused to virtue7. When old friendsare not neglected by them, the people are preserved from meanness."The philosopher Tsang being ill, he cared to him the disciples8 ofhis school, and said, "Uncover my feet, uncover my hands. It is saidin the Book of Poetry, 'We should be apprehensive9 and cautious, asif on the brink10 of a deep gulf11, as if treading on thin ice, I andso have I been. Now and hereafter, I know my escape from all injuryto my person. O ye, my little children."The philosopher Tsang being ill, Meng Chang went to ask how he was.
Tsang said to him, "When a bird is about to die, its notes are mournful;when a man is about to die, his words are good.
"There are three principles of conduct which the man of high rankshould consider specially12 important:-that in his deportment and mannerhe keep from violence and heedlessness; that in regulating his countenancehe keep near to sincerity13; and that in his words and tones he keepfar from lowness and impropriety. As to such matters as attendingto the sacrificial vessels14, there are the proper officers for them."The philosopher Tsang said, "Gifted with ability, and yet puttingquestions to those who were not so; possessed15 of much, and yet puttingquestions to those possessed of little; having, as though he had not;full, and yet counting himself as empty; offended against, and yetentering into no altercation16; formerly17 I had a friend who pursuedthis style of conduct."The philosopher Tsang said, "Suppose that there is an individual whocan be entrusted18 with the charge of a young orphan19 prince, and canbe commissioned with authority over a state of a hundred li, and whomno emergency however great can drive from his principles:-is sucha man a superior man? He is a superior man indeed."The philosopher Tsang said, "The officer may not be without breadthof mind and vigorous endurance. His burden is heavy and his courseis long.
"Perfect virtue is the burden which he considers it is his to sustain;-isit not heavy? Only with death does his course stop;-is it not long?
The Master said, "It is by the Odes that the mind is aroused.
"It is by the Rules of Propriety that the character is established.
"It is from Music that the finish is received."The Master said, "The people may be made to follow a path of action,but they may not be made to understand it."The Master said, "The man who is fond of daring and is dissatisfiedwith poverty, will proceed to insubordination. So will the man whois not virtuous, when you carry your dislike of him to an extreme."The Master said, "Though a man have abilities as admirable as thoseof the Duke of Chau, yet if he be proud and niggardly20, those otherthings are really not worth being looked at."The Master said, "It is not easy to find a man who has learned forthree years without coming to be good."The Master said, "With sincere faith he unites the love of learning;holding firm to death, he is perfecting the excellence21 of his course.
"Such an one will not enter a tottering22 state, nor dwell in a disorganizedone. When right principles of government prevail in the kingdom, hewill show himself; when they are prostrated23, he will keep concealed24.
"When a country is well governed, poverty and a mean condition arethings to be ashamed of. When a country is ill governed, riches andhonor are things to be ashamed of."The Master said, "He who is not in any particular office has nothingto do with plans for the administration of its duties."The Master said, "When the music master Chih first entered on hisoffice, the finish of the Kwan Tsu was magnificent;-how it filledthe ears!"The Master said, "Ardent26 and yet not upright, stupid and yet not attentive;simple and yet not sincere:-such persons I do not understand."The Master said, "Learn as if you could not reach your object, andwere always fearing also lest you should lose it."The Master said, "How majestic27 was the manner in which Shun28 and Yuheld possession of the empire, as if it were nothing to them!
The Master said, "Great indeed was Yao as a sovereign! How majesticwas he! It is only Heaven that is grand, and only Yao correspondedto it. How vast was his virtue! The people could find no name forit.