The Analects Chapter 9
The subjects of which the Master seldom spoke1 were-profitableness,and also the appointments of Heaven, and perfect virtue2.
A man of the village of Ta-hsiang said, "Great indeed is the philosopherK'ung! His learning is extensive, and yet he does not render his namefamous by any particular thing."The Master heard the observation, and said to his disciples3, "Whatshall I practice? Shall I practice charioteering, or shall I practicearchery? I will practice charioteering."The Master said, "The linen4 cap is that prescribed by the rules ofceremony, but now a silk one is worn. It is economical, and I followthe common practice.
"The rules of ceremony prescribe the bowing below the hall, but nowthe practice is to bow only after ascending5 it. That is arrogant6.
I continue to bow below the hall, though I oppose the common practice."There were four things from which the Master was entirely7 free. Hehad no foregone conclusions, no arbitrary predeterminations, no obstinacy,and no egoism.
The Master was put in fear in K'wang.
He said, "After the death of King Wan8, was not the cause of truthlodged here in me?
"If Heaven had wished to let this cause of truth perish, then I, afuture mortal! should not have got such a relation to that cause.
While Heaven does not let the cause of truth perish, what can thepeople of K'wang do to me?"A high officer asked Tsze-kung, saying, "May we not say that yourMaster is a sage9? How various is his ability!"Tsze-kung said, "Certainly Heaven has endowed him unlimitedly10. Heis about a sage. And, moreover, his ability is various."The Master heard of the conversation and said, "Does the high officerknow me? When I was young, my condition was low, and I acquired myability in many things, but they were mean matters. Must the superiorman have such variety of ability? He does not need variety of ability.
Lao said, "The Master said, 'Having no official employment, I acquiredmany arts.'"The Master said, "Am I indeed possessed11 of knowledge? I am not knowing.
But if a mean person, who appears quite empty-like, ask anything ofme, I set it forth12 from one end to the other, and exhaust it."The Master said, "The Fang13 bird does not come; the river sends forthno map:-it is all over with me!"When the Master saw a person in a mourning dress, or any one withthe cap and upper and lower garments of full dress, or a blind person,on observing them approaching, though they were younger than himself,he would rise up, and if he had to pass by them, he would do so hastily.
Yen14 Yuan, in admiration15 of the Master's doctrines16, sighed and said,"I looked up to them, and they seemed to become more high; I triedto penetrate17 them, and they seemed to become more firm; I looked atthem before me, and suddenly they seemed to be behind.
"The Master, by orderly method, skillfully leads men on. He enlargedmy mind with learning, and taught me the restraints of propriety18.
"When I wish to give over the study of his doctrines, I cannot doso, and having exerted all my ability, there seems something to standright up before me; but though I wish to follow and lay hold of it,I really find no way to do so."The Master being very ill, Tsze-lu wished the disciples to act asministers to him.
During a remission of his illness, he said, "Long has the conductof Yu been deceitful! By pretending to have ministers when I havethem not, whom should I impose upon? Should I impose upon Heaven?
"Moreover, than that I should die in the hands of ministers, is itnot better that I should die in the hands of you, my disciples? Andthough I may not get a great burial, shall I die upon the road?"Tsze-kung said, "There is a beautiful gem19 here. Should I lay it upin a case and keep it? or should I seek for a good price and sellit?" The Master said, "Sell it! Sell it! But I would wait for oneto offer the price."The Master was wishing to go and live among the nine wild tribes ofthe east.
Some one said, "They are rude. How can you do such a thing?" The Mastersaid, "If a superior man dwelt among them, what rudeness would therebe?"The Master said, "I returned from Wei to Lu, and then the music wasreformed, and the pieces in the Royal songs and Praise songs all foundtheir proper places."The Master said, "Abroad, to serve the high ministers and nobles;at home, to serve one's father and elder brothers; in all duties tothe dead, not to dare not to exert one's self; and not to be overcomeof wine:-which one of these things do I attain20 to?"The Master standing21 by a stream, said, "It passes on just like this,not ceasing day or night!"The Master said, "I have not seen one who loves virtue as he lovesbeauty."The Master said, "The prosecution22 of learning may be compared to whatmay happen in raising a mound23. If there want but one basket of earthto complete the work, and I stop, the stopping is my own work. Itmay be compared to throwing down the earth on the level ground. Thoughbut one basketful is thrown at a time, the advancing with it my owngoing forward."The Master said, "Never flagging when I set forth anything to him;-ah!