The Master drew in his breath, sighed, and exclaimed, “Ah, I take with you!”

The three other disciples having gone out, leaving Tsang Sin behind, the latter said, “What think you of the answers of those three?”—­“Well, each told me what was uppermost in his mind,” said the Master;—­“simply that.”

“Why did you smile at Tsz-lu, sir?”

“I smiled at him because to have the charge of a State requires due regard to the Rules of Propriety, and his words betrayed a lack of modesty.”

“But Yen, then—­he had a State in view, had he not?”

“I should like to be shown a territory such as he described which does not amount to a State.”

“But had not Kung-si also a State in view?”

“What are ancestral temples and Grand Receptions, but for the feudal lords to take part in?  If Kung-si were to become an unimportant assistant at these functions, who could become an important one?”

[Footnote 26:  The men of virtuous life were Yen Yuen (Hwui), Min Tsz-k’ien, Yen Pihniu, and Chung-kung (Yen Yung); the speakers and debaters were Tsai Wo and Tsz-kung; the (capable) government servants were Yen Yu and Tsz-lu; the literary students, Tsz-yu and Tsz-hia.]

[Footnote 27:  Lit., capped ones.  At twenty they underwent the ceremony of capping, and were considered men.]

[Footnote 28:  I.e., before the altars, where offerings were placed with prayer for rain.  A religious dance.]

BOOK XII

The Master’s Answers—­Philanthropy—­Friendships

Yen Yuen was asking about man’s proper regard for his fellow-man.  The Master said to him, “Self-control, and a habit of falling back upon propriety, virtually effect it.  Let these conditions be fulfilled for one day, and every one round will betake himself to the duty.  Is it to begin in one’s self, or think you, indeed! it is to begin in others?”

“I wanted you to be good enough,” said Yen Yuen, “to give me a brief synopsis of it.”

Then said the Master, “Without Propriety use not your eyes; without it use not your ears, nor your tongue, nor a limb of your body.”

“I may be lacking in diligence,” said Yen Yuen, “but with your favor I will endeavor to carry out this advice.”

Chung-kung asked about man’s proper regard for his fellows.

To him the Master replied thus:  “When you go forth from your door, be as if you were meeting some guest of importance.  When you are making use of the common people (for State purposes), be as if you were taking part in a great religious function.  Do not set before others what you do not desire yourself.  Let there be no resentful feelings against you when you are away in the country, and none when at home.”

“I may lack diligence,” said Chung-kung, “but with your favor I will endeavor to carry out this advice.”

Sz-ma Niu asked the like question.  The answer he received was this:  “The words of the man who has a proper regard for his fellows are uttered with difficulty.”