SOURCE: "Confucius and His Immediate Disciples," in The Chinese Classics, Vol. I, Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1893, pp. 90-111.

In the following excerpt, Legge remarks on the veneration of Confucius and discusses the philosopher's views on government.

1. Confucius died … complaining that of all the princes of the kingdom there was not one who would adopt his principles and obey his lessons. He had hardly passed from the stage of life, when his merit began to be acknowledged. When the duke Âi heard of his death, he pronounced his eulogy in the words, 'Heaven has not left to me the aged man. There is none now to assist me on the throne. Woe is me! Alas! O venerable Nî!' Tsze-kung complained of the inconsistency of this lamentation from one who could not use the master when he was alive, but the prince was probably sincere in his grief...