17
Yang Ho wished to see Confucius, but Confucius would not go to see him. On this, he sent a present of a pig to Confucius, who, having chosen a time when Ho was not at home went to pay his respects for the gift. He met him, however, on the way.
Ho said to Confucius, "Come, let me speak with you." He then asked, "Can he be called benevolent who keeps his jewel in his bosom, and leaves his country to confusion?" Confucius replied, "No." "Can he be called wise, who is anxious to be engaged in public employment, and yet is constantly losing the opportunity of being so?" Confucius again said, "No." "The days and months are passing away; the years do not wait for us." Confucius said, "Right; I will go into office."The Master said, "By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart."
The Master said, "There are only the wise of the highest class, and the stupid of the lowest class, who cannot be changed."
The Master, having come to Wu-ch’ang, heard there the sound of stringed instruments and singing.Well pleased and smiling, he said, "Why use an ox knife to kill a fowl?"
Tsze-yu replied, "Formerly, Master, I heard you say,-’When the man of high station is well instructed, he loves men; when the man of low station is well instructed, he is easily ruled.’"
The Master said, "My disciples, Yen’s words are right. What I said was only in sport."
Kung-shan Fu-zao, when he was holding Pi, and in an attitude of rebellion, invited the Master to visit him, who was rather inclined to go.
Tsze-lu was displeased. and said, "Indeed, you cannot go! Why must you think of going to see Kung-shan?"
The Master said, "Can it be without some reason that he has invited ME? If any one employ me, may I not make an eastern Chau?"
Tsze-chang asked Confucius about perfect virtue. Confucius said, "To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue." He begged to ask what they were, and was told, "Gravity, generosity of soul, sin
【打 印】 【来源：读书之家-dushuzhijia.com】
