“Does a gentleman,” asked Tsz-lu, “make much account of bravery?”

“Righteousness he counts higher,” said the Master.  “A gentleman who is brave without being just may become turbulent; while a common person who is brave and not just may end in becoming a highwayman.”

Tsz-kung asked, “I suppose a gentleman will have his aversions as well as his likings?”

“Yes,” replied the Master, “he will dislike those who talk much about other people’s ill-deeds.  He will dislike those who, when occupying inferior places, utter defamatory words against their superiors.  He will dislike those who, though they may be brave, have no regard for propriety.  And he will dislike those hastily decisive and venturesome spirits who are nevertheless so hampered by limited intellect.”

“And you, too, Tsz-kung,” he continued, “have your aversions, have you not?”

“I dislike,” said he, “those plagiarists who wish to pass for wise persons.  I dislike those people who wish their lack of humility to be taken for bravery.  I dislike also those divulgers of secrets who think to be accounted straightforward.”

“Of all others,” said the Master, “women-servants and men-servants are the most difficult people to have the care of.  Approach them in a familiar manner, and they take liberties; keep them at a distance, and they grumble.”

Again, “When a man meets with odium at forty, he will do so to the end.”

[Footnote 32:  Different woods were adopted for this purpose at the various seasons.]

BOOK XVIII

Good Men in Seclusion—­Duke of Chow to His Son

“In the reign of the last king of the Yin dynasty,” Confucius I said, “there were three men of philanthropic spirit:—­the viscount of Wei, who withdrew from him; the viscount of Ki, who became his bondsman; and Pi-kan, who reproved him and suffered death.”

Hwui of Liu-hia, who filled the office of Chief Criminal Judge, was thrice dismissed.  A person remarked to him, “Can you not yet bear to withdraw?” He replied, “If I act in a straightforward way in serving men, whither in these days should I go, where I should not be thrice dismissed?  Were I to adopt crooked ways in their service, why need I leave the land where my parents dwell?”

Duke King of Ts’i remarked respecting his attitude towards Confucius, “If he is to be treated like the Chief of the Ki family, I cannot do it.  I should treat him as somewhere between the Ki and Mang Chiefs.—­I am old,” he added, “and not competent to avail myself of him.”

Confucius, hearing of this, went away.

The Ts’i officials presented to the Court of Lu a number of female musicians.  Ki Hwan accepted them, and for three days no Court was held.

Confucius went away.

Tsieh-yu, the madman [33] of Ts’u, was once passing Confucius, singing as he went along.  He sang—­