Tsz-hia’s disciples asked Tsz-chang his views about intercourse with others.  “What says your Master?” he rejoined.  “He says,” they replied, “’Associate with those who are qualified, and repel from you such as are not,’” Tsz-chang then said, “That is different from what I have learnt.  A superior man esteems the worthy and wise, and bears with all.  He makes much of the good and capable, and pities the incapable.  Am I eminently worthy and wise?—­who is there then among men whom I will not bear with?  Am I not worthy and wise?—­others will be minded to repel me:  I have nothing to do with repelling them.”

Sayings of Tsz-hia:—­

“Even in inferior pursuits there must be something worthy of contemplation, but if carried to an extreme there is danger of fanaticism; hence the superior man does not engage in them.

“The student who daily recognizes how much he yet lacks, and as the months pass forgets not what he has succeeded in learning, may undoubtedly be called a lover of learning.

“Wide research and steadfast purpose, eager questioning and close reflection—­all this tends to humanize a man.

“As workmen spend their time in their workshops for the perfecting of their work, so superior men apply their minds to study in order to make themselves thoroughly conversant with their subjects.

“When an inferior man does a wrong thing, he is sure to gloss it over.

“The superior man is seen in three different aspects:—­look at him from a distance, he is imposing in appearance; approach him, he is gentle and warm-hearted; hear him speak, he is acute and strict.

“Let such a man have the people’s confidence, and he will get much work out of them; so long, however, as he does not possess their confidence they will regard him as grinding them down.

“When confidence is reposed in him, he may then with impunity administer reproof; so long as it is not, he will be regarded as a detractor.

“Where there is no over-stepping of barriers in the practice of the higher virtues, there may be freedom to pass in and out in the practice of the lower ones.”

Tsz-yu had said, “The pupils in the school of Tsz-hia are good enough at such things as sprinkling and scrubbing floors, answering calls and replying to questions from superiors, and advancing and retiring to and from such; but these things are only offshoots—­as to the root of things they are nowhere.  What is the use of all that?”

When this came to the ears of Tsz-hia, he said, “Ah! there he is mistaken.  What does a master, in his methods of teaching, consider first in his precepts?  And what does he account next, as that about which he may be indifferent?  It is like as in the study of plants—­classification by differentiae.  How may a master play fast and loose in his methods of instruction?  Would they not indeed be sages, who could take in at once the first principles and the final developments of things?”