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confucius said； 〃the revenue of the state has left the ducal house now forfive generations。 the government has been in the hands of the great officers forfour generations。 on this account； the descendants of the three hwan are muchreduced。〃
confucius said； 〃there are three friendships which are advantageous； andthree which are injurious。 friendship with the uplight； friendship with thesincere； and friendship with the man of much observation：…these are advantageous。friendship with the man of specious airs； friendship with the insinuatingly soft；and friendship with the glib…tongued：…these are injurious。〃
confucius said； 〃there are three things men find enjoyment in which areadvantageous； and three things they find enjoyment in which are injurious。 tofind enjoyment in the discriminating study of ceremonies and music； to findenjoyment in speaking of the goodness of others； to find enjoyment in havingmany worthy friends：…these are advantageous。 to find enjoyment in extravagantpleasures； to find enjoyment in idleness and sauntering； to find enjoyment inthe pleasures of feasting：…these are injurious。〃
confucius said； 〃there are three errors to which they who stand in thepresence of a man of virtue and station are liable。 they may speak when it doesnot e to them to speak；…this is called rashness。 they may not speak when ites to them to speak；…this is called concealment。 they may speak withoutlooking at the countenance of their superior；…this is called blindness。〃
confucius said； 〃there are three things which the superior man guardsagainst。 in youth； when the physical powers are not yet settled； he guardsagainst lust。 when he is strong and the physical powers are full of vigor； heguards against quarrelsomeness。 when he is old； and the animal powers aredecayed； he guards against covetousness。〃
confucius said； 〃there are three things of which the superior man stands inawe。 he stands in awe of the ordinances of heaven。 he stands in awe of great men。he stands in awe of the words of sages。
〃the mean man does not know the ordinances of heaven； and consequently doesnot stand in awe of them。 he is disrespectful to great men。 he makes sport ofthe words of sages。〃
confucius said； 〃those who are born with the possession of knowledge are thehighest class of men。 those who learn； and so readily get possession ofknowledge； are the next。 those who are dull and stupid； and yet pass thelearning； are another class next to these。 as to those who are dull and stupidand yet do not learn；…they are the lowest of the people。〃
confucius said； 〃the superior man has nine things which are subjects withhim of thoughtful consideration。 in regard to the use of his eyes； he is anxiousto see clearly。 in regard to the use of his ears； he is anxious to heardistinctly。 in regard to his countenance； he is anxious that it should be benign。in regard to his demeanor； he is anxious that it should be respectful。 in regardto his speech； he is anxious that it should be sincere。 in regard to his doingof business； he is anxious that it should be reverently careful。 in regard towhat he doubts about； he is anxious to question others。 when he is angry； hethinks of the difficulties his anger may involve him in。 when he sees gain to begot； he thinks of righteousness。〃
confucius said； 〃contemplating good； and pursuing it； as if they could notreach it； contemplating evil！ and shrinking from it； as they would fromthrusting the hand into boiling water：…i have seen such men； as i have heardsuch words。
〃living in retirement to study their aims； and practicing righteousness tocarry out their principles：…i have heard these words； but i have not seen suchmen。〃
the duke ching of ch'i had a thousand teams； each of four horses； but on theday of his death； the people did not praise him for a single virtue。 po…i andshu…ch'i died of hunger at the foot of the shau…yang mountains； and the people；down to the present time； praise them。
〃is not that saying illustrated by this？〃
ch'an k'ang asked po…yu； saying； 〃have you heard any lessons from yourfather different from what we have all heard？〃
po…yu replied； 〃no。 he was standing alone once； when i passed below the hallwith hasty steps； and said to me； 'have you learned the odes？' on my replying'not yet；' he added； if you do not learn the odes； you will not be fit toconverse with。' i retired and studied the odes。
〃another day； he was in the same way standing alone； when i passed by belowthe hall with hasty steps； and said to me； 'have you learned the rules ofpropriety？' on my replying 'not yet；' he added； 'if you do not learn the rulesof propriety； your character cannot be established。' i then retired； and learnedthe rules of propriety。
〃i have heard only these two things from him。〃
ch'ang k'ang retired； and； quite delighted； said； 〃i asked one thing； and ihave got three things。 i have heard about the odes。 i have heard about the rulesof propriety。 i have also heard that the superior man maintains a distantreserve towards his son。〃
the wife of the prince of a state is called by him fu zan。 she calls herselfhsiao t'ung。 the people of the state call her chun fu zan； and； to the people ofother states； they call her k'wa hsiao chun。 the people of other states alsocall her chun fu zan。
17
yang ho wished to see confucius； but confucius would not go to see him。 onthis； he sent a present of a pig to confucius； who； having chosen a time when howas not at home went to pay his respects for the gift。 he met him； however； onthe way。
ho said to confucius； 〃e； let me speak with you。〃 he then asked； 〃can hebe called benevolent who keeps his jewel in his bosom； and leaves his country toconfusion？〃 confucius replied； 〃no。〃 〃can he be called wise； who is anxious tobe engaged in public employment； and yet is constantly losing the opportunity ofbeing so？〃 confucius again said； 〃no。〃 〃the days and months are passing away；the years do not wait for us。〃 confucius said； 〃right； i will go into office。〃
the master said； 〃by nature； men are nearly alike； by practice； they get tobe wide apart。〃
the master said； 〃there are only the wise of the highest class； and thestupid of the lowest class； who cannot be changed。〃
the master； having e to wu…ch'ang； heard there the sound of stringedinstruments and singing。
well pleased and smiling； he said； 〃why use an ox knife to kill a fowl？〃
tsze…yu replied； 〃formerly； master； i heard you say；…'when the man of highstation is well instructed； he loves men； when the man of low station is wellinstructed； he is easily ruled。'〃
the master said； 〃my disciples； yen's words are right。 what i said was onlyin sport。〃
kung…shan fu…zao； when he was holding pi； and in an attitude of rebellion；invited the master to visit him； who was rather inclined to go。
tsze…lu was displeased。 and said； 〃indeed； you cannot go！ why must you thinkof going to see kung…shan？〃
the master said； 〃can it be without some reason that he has invited me？ ifany one employ me； may i not make an eastern chau？〃
tsze…chang asked confucius about perfect virtue。 confucius said； 〃to be ableto practice five things everywhere under heaven constit