Book 9: The Rare Teacher

Book 9: The Rare Teacher

Chapter Nine

9.1

The Master rarely spoke of profit, of destiny, or of benevolence.

9.2

A man from Daxiang village said, "Great indeed is Confucius! He has broad learning, yet he has made no name for himself in any particular field." The Master heard this and said to his disciples, "What shall I specialize in? Shall I take up charioteering? Shall I take up archery? I shall take up charioteering."

9.3

The Master said, "A linen cap is prescribed by the rites, but nowadays people use silk. This is more economical, and I follow the common practice. Bowing at the bottom of the hall is prescribed by the rites, but nowadays people bow at the top. This is presumptuous. Even though I go against the crowd, I bow at the bottom."

9.4

The Master set aside four things: he had no arbitrary preconceptions, no inflexible expectations, no obstinate rigidity, and no egoism.

9.5

The Master was in danger in Kuang. He said, "Since King Wen has passed away, does not the cause of culture rest here with me? If Heaven intended this culture to perish, then those who come after would not have been able to share in it. If Heaven does not intend this culture to perish, what can the people of Kuang do to me?"

9.6

A high minister asked Zigong, "Is your Master a sage? How is it that he has so many accomplishments?" Zigong said, "Indeed, Heaven has endowed him abundantly, making him a sage, and he has many accomplishments besides." The Master heard this and said, "Does the high minister know me? When I was young, my family was poor, so I learned many humble skills. Does a gentleman need so many accomplishments? No, he does not."

9.7

Lao said, "The Master once remarked, 'Because I was never employed in office, I acquired various skills.'"

9.8

The Master said, "Do I possess knowledge? I have no knowledge. A simple fellow once came to ask me a question, and I was completely empty. But I discussed it from both ends and exhausted the subject."

9.9

The Master said, "The phoenix does not appear, nor does the river produce its chart. It is all over with me!"

9.10

When the Master saw someone wearing mourning robes, or wearing ceremonial robes and cap, or who was blind, even if they were young, he would rise when they approached, and would quicken his step when passing by them.

9.11

Yan Yuan sighed deeply and said, "The more I look up at it, the higher it seems; the more I delve into it, the harder it becomes. I see it before me, and then suddenly it is behind! Our Master skillfully leads people on step by step. He broadens me with culture and restrains me with the rites. Even when I wish to stop, I cannot. I have exhausted my abilities, and though something stands there towering and firm, even though I wish to follow it, I find no way to do so!"

9.12

The Master was gravely ill. Zilu had the disciples act as retainers. When the Master had recovered somewhat, he said, "How long Zilu has been practicing deception! To have retainers when I have none—whom would I be deceiving? Would I be deceiving Heaven? Besides, would I not rather die in the hands of you, my disciples, than in the hands of retainers? And even though I may not receive a grand funeral, would I be left to die on the road?"

9.13

Zigong said, "Suppose there were a beautiful jade here—should one wrap it up in a box and hide it, or should one seek a good price and sell it?" The Master said, "Sell it! Sell it! I am waiting for the right price."

9.14

The Master wished to go and live among the Nine Barbarian Tribes of the east. Someone said, "They are uncivilized—how could you bear it?" The Master said, "If a gentleman lived among them, what uncivilization would there be?"

9.15

The Master said, "When I returned from Wei to Lu, the music was then put in order, and the Ya and Sung were each assigned their proper places."

9.16

The Master said, "In public service, I served the dukes and ministers; at home, I served my father and elder brothers. At funerals, I never dared to fail in diligence. I was never overcome by wine. How have I managed any of this?"

9.17

Standing by a river, the Master said, "What passes away is just like this, never ceasing day or night."

9.18

The Master said, "I have yet to meet anyone who loves virtue as much as he loves beauty."

9.19

The Master said, "Consider building a mountain: if I stop short before adding the single basket of earth, it is I who stop. Consider leveling ground: even if I have only overturned one basket of earth, it is I who advance."

9.20

The Master said, "One who does not tire when I speak of it—that would be Hui, would it not?"

9.21

Speaking of Yan Yuan, the Master said, "What a pity! I saw him make progress; I never saw him stop."

9.22

The Master said, "There are plants that grow but do not flower! There are plants that flower but do not bear fruit!"

9.23

The Master said, "The young should be held in awe. How do we know that those who come after will not surpass those of the present? But if a man reaches forty or fifty and has made no name for himself, then indeed he is not worthy of awe."

9.24

The Master said, "When words are spoken according to what is right, can one fail to follow them? But what matters is that one reforms. When words are spoken with pleasant modesty, can one fail to be pleased? But what matters is that one reflects on them. To be pleased without reflecting, to follow without reforming—there is nothing I can do with such a person."

9.25

The Master said, "Hold loyalty and good faith as your guiding principles; do not befriend those who are not your equal; when you have faults, do not fear to correct them."

9.26

The Master said, "The commander of an army may be captured, but the will of a common man cannot be taken from him."

9.27

The Master said, "To stand alongside one wearing a fox or badger fur robe while wearing a tattered gown of hemp, and yet not feel ashamed—that would be You, would it not? 'He does not envy, he does not covet—what is there in him that is not good?'" Zilu recited this verse all his life. The Master said, "This is merely the way—how can it be counted as good?"

9.28

The Master said, "Only when the year grows cold do we see that the pine and cypress are the last to wither."

9.29

The Master said, "The wise are free from perplexity; the benevolent are free from anxiety; the courageous are free from fear."

9.30

The Master said, "There are those with whom one may study together, but with whom one may not yet pursue the Way. There are those with whom one may pursue the Way, but with whom one may not yet stand firm. There are those with whom one may stand firm, but with whom one may not yet exercise judgment."

9.31

"The blossoms of the tangdi tree,

Turn and sway.

How could I not think of you?

But your home is so far away."

The Master said, "It is that he did not truly think of her—what distance would there be?"