Chia has the direction of the army and forces:-with such officers as these, how should he lose his state?"
The Master said, "He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good."
Chan Ch’ang murdered the Duke Chien of Ch’i.
Confucius bathed, went to court and informed the Duke Ai, saying, "Chan Hang has slain his sovereign. I beg that you will undertake to punish him."
The duke said, "Inform the chiefs of the three families of it."
Confucius retired, and said, "Following in the rear of the great officers, I did not dare not to represent such a matter, and my prince says, "Inform the chiefs of the three families of it."
He went to the chiefs, and informed them, but they would not act. Confucius then said, "Following in the rear of the great officers, I did not dare not to represent such a matter."
Tsze-lu asked how a ruler should be served. The Master said, "Do not impose on him, and, moreover, withstand him to his face."The Master said, "The progress of the superior man is upwards; the progress of the mean man is downwards."
The Master said, "In ancient times, men learned with a view to their own improvement. Nowadays, men learn with a view to the approbation of others."
Chu Po-yu sent a messenger with friendly inquiries to Confucius.
Confucius sat with him, and questioned him. "What," said he! "is your master engaged in?" The messenger replied, "My master is anxious to make his faults few, but he has not yet succeeded." He then went out, and the Master said, "A messenger indeed! A messenger indeed!"The Master said, "He who is not in any particular office has nothing to do with plans for the administration of its duties."
The philosopher Tsang said, "The superior man, in his thoughts, does not go out of his place."
The Master said, "The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions."
The Master said, "The way of the superior man is threefold, but I am not equal to it. Virtuous, he is free from anxietie
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