第3节

em, had a stand on which to place their inverted cups. kwan hadalso such a stand. if kwan knew the rules of propriety, who does not know them?"

the master instructing the grand music master of lu said, "how to play musicmay be known. at the commencement of the piece, all the parts should soundtogether. as it proceeds, they should be in harmony while severally distinct andflowing without break, and thus on to the conclusion."

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 theprivilege of seeing them." the followers of the sage introduced him, and when hecame out from the interview, he said, "my friends, why are you distressed byyour master's loss of office? the kingdom has long been without the principlesof truth and right; heaven is going to use your master as a bell with its woodentongue."

the master said of the shao that it was perfectly beautiful and alsoperfectly good. he said of the wu that it was perfectly beautiful but notperfectly good.

the master said, "high station filled without indulgent generosity;ceremonies performed without reverence; mourning conducted without sorrow;-wherewith should i contemplate such ways?"

the master said, "it is virtuous manners which constitute the excellence ofa neighborhood. if a man in selecting a residence do not fix on one where suchprevail, how can he be wise?"

the master said, "those who are without virtue cannot abide long either in acondition of poverty and hardship, or in a condition of enjoyment. the virtuousrest in virtue; the wise desire virtue."

the master said, "it is only the truly virtuous man, who can love, or whocan hate, others."

the master said, "if the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice ofwickedness."

the master said, "riches and honors are what men desire. if they cannot beobtained in the proper way, they should not be held. poverty and meanness arewhat men dislike. if they cannot be avoided in the proper way, they should notbe avoided.

"if a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfill the requirements ofthat name?

"the superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, actcontrary to virtue. in moments of haste, he cleaves to it. in seasons of danger,he cleaves to it."

the master said, "i have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one whohated 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 hewould not allow anything that is not virtuous to approach his person.

"is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue? i have notseen the case in which his strength would be insufficient.

"should there possibly be any such case, i have not seen it."

the master said, "the faults of men are characteristic of the class to whichthey belong. by observing a man's faults, it may be known that he is virtuous."

the master said, "if a man in the morning hear the right way, he may die inthe evening hear regret."

the master said, "a scholar, whose mind is set on truth, and who is ashamedof bad clothes and bad food, is not fit to be discoursed with."

the master said, "the superior man, in the world, does not set his mindeither for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow."

the master said, "the superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks ofcomfort. the superior man thinks of the sanctions of law; the small man thinksof favors which he may receive."

the master said: "he who acts with a constant view to his own advantage willbe much murmured against."

the master said, "if a prince is able to govern his kingdom with thecomplaisance proper to the rules of propriety, what difficulty will he have? ifhe cannot govern it with that complaisance, what has he to do with the rules ofpropriety?"

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 notknown, i seek to be worthy to be known."

the master said, "shan, my doctrine is that of an all-pervading unity." thedisciple tsang replied, "yes."