Book 6: Yong Ye

Book 6: Yong Ye

Six One

The Master said, "Yong may be placed with his face to the south." Zhonggong asked about Zisang Bozi. The Master said, "He is tolerable. He is simple." Zhonggong said, "If a man maintains an attitude of reverence in his heart and acts with simplicity in governing the people, would that not be acceptable? But if he is simple in his heart and also acts with simplicity, would that not be carrying simplicity too far?" The Master said, "What Yong says is right."

Six Two

Duke Ai asked, "Which of your disciples are devoted to learning?" Confucius replied, "There was one, Yan Hui, who was devoted to learning. He did not vent his anger upon the innocent, nor did he repeat a fault. Unfortunately, his allotted span was short and he died. Now there is no one. I have not yet heard of anyone who is devoted to learning."

Six Three

Zihua was sent on a mission to Qi. Ran Qiu asked for grain for Zihua's mother. The Master said, "Give her a fu." Ran Qiu asked for more. The Master said, "Give her a yu." Ran Qiu gave her five bing. The Master said, "When Chi went to Qi, he rode a fat horse and wore a light fur coat. I have heard it said: 'The gentleman gives succour to those in need; he does not add to the wealth of the rich.'" Yuan Si served as steward and was offered nine hundred measures of grain. He declined. The Master said, "No. May you not share it with your neighbours and fellow villagers?"

Six Four

The Master said of Zhonggong, "If the calf of a brindled ox is red in colour and properly horned, even though people may not wish to use it, would the spirits of the mountains and rivers cast it aside?"

Six Five

The Master said, "For three months at a stretch Hui's mind did not stray from benevolence. As for the others, the most that can be said is that benevolence may visit them once a day or once a month."

Six Six

Ji Kangzi asked, "Could Zhongyou be employed in government service?" The Master said, "You is resolute. What difficulty would he find in taking part in government?" Kangzi asked, "Could Ci be employed in government service?" The Master said, "Ci is understanding. What difficulty would he find in taking part in government?" Kangzi asked, "Could Qiu be employed in government service?" The Master said, "Qiu has talent. What difficulty would he find in taking part in government?"

Six Seven

The Ji family wished to appoint Min Ziqian as governor of Fei. Min Ziqian said, "Please decline the offer on my behalf. If anyone comes to reappoint me, I shall certainly go beyond the Wen River."

Six Eight

Boniu was ill. The Master went to inquire after him. Taking his hand through the window, the Master said, "It is all over. Such is fate, alas! That such a man should have such an illness! That such a man should have such an illness!"

Six Nine

The Master said, "What a man of worth was Hui! A single basket of rice, a single gourd of water, living in a humble lane—others could not have borne such hardship, yet Hui never altered his joy. What a man of worth was Hui!"

Six Ten

Ran Qiu said, "It is not that I do not delight in your Way, but my strength is insufficient." The Master said, "Those whose strength is insufficient collapse midway along the road. Now you have drawn a line for yourself."

Six Eleven

The Master said to Zixia, "Be a gentleman-scholar, not a petty-scholar."

Six Twelve

Ziyou became governor of Wucheng. The Master said, "Have you found any worthy men there?" He replied, "There is Tantai Mieming. He never takes shortcuts, and except on public business, he never once came to my chamber."

Six Thirteen

The Master said, "Meng Zhifan did not boast. When the army was in retreat, he brought up the rear. As they were about to enter the city gate, he whipped his horse and said, 'It is not that I dared to be last; my horse would not advance.'"

Six Fourteen

The Master said, "Without the eloquence of Zhu Tuo and the beauty of Song Zhao, it is difficult to escape in the present age."

Six Fifteen

The Master said, "Who can leave a house except by the door? Why does no one follow this Way?"

Six Sixteen

The Master said, "When substance predominates over refinement, there is boorishness. When refinement predominates over substance, there is pedantry. When refinement and substance are well blended, then you have the gentleman."

Six Seventeen

The Master said, "By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart."

Six Eighteen

The Master said, "To know it is not as good as to love it, and to love it is not as good as to delight in it."

Six Nineteen

The Master said, "Those who are above the average can be instructed in higher matters; those who are below the average cannot be instructed in higher matters."

Six Twenty

Fan Chi asked about wisdom. The Master said, "To devote oneself to what is right for the people, and to respect the spirits and keep them at a distance—this may be called wisdom." He asked about benevolence. The Master said, "The benevolent man takes difficulties upon himself and rewards himself later—this may be called benevolence."

Six Twenty-One

The Master said, "The wise delight in water; the benevolent delight in mountains. The wise are active; the benevolent are still. The wise are joyful; the benevolent are long-lived."

Six Twenty-Two

The Master said, "Let Qi change one thing, and it would reach the level of Lu; let Lu change one thing, and it would reach the Way."

Six Twenty-Three

The Master said, "A gu that is not a gu—is it really a gu? Is it really a gu?"

Six Twenty-Four

Zai Wo asked, "If a benevolent man were told, 'There is a man in the well,' would he go in after him?" The Master said, "Why should he do that? A gentleman may be led to the spot, but he cannot be trapped into the well. He may be deceived, but he cannot be fooled."

Six Twenty-Five

The Master said, "The gentleman who has broadly studied culture and disciplined it by the rites may indeed be expected not to go astray."

Six Twenty-Six

The Master went to see Nanzi. Zigong was displeased. The Master swore, "If I have done anything wrong, may Heaven reject me! May Heaven reject me!"

Six Twenty-Seven

The Master said, "The virtue embodied in the doctrine of the Mean is supreme! It has long been rare among the people."

Six Twenty-Eight

Zigong said, "Suppose a man were to bestow benefits upon the people on a large scale and bring succour to the multitude—what would you say? Could he be called benevolent?" The Master said, "Why stop at benevolence? He would surely be a sage. Even Yao and舜 would find such a task difficult! The benevolent man, wishing to establish himself, establishes others; wishing to achieve success, helps others to achieve success. To take one's own feelings as a guide—this may be called the method of benevolence."