ing out my meaning. Now I can begin to talk about the odes with him."
The Master said, "I could describe the ceremonies of the Hsia dynasty, but Chi cannot sufficiently attest my words. I could describe the ceremonies of the Yin dynasty, but Sung cannot sufficiently attest my words. They cannot do so because of the insufficiency of their records and wise men. If those were sufficient, I could adduce them in support of my words."
The Master said, "At the great sacrifice, after the pouring out of the libation, I have no wish to look on."
Some one asked the meaning of the great sacrifice. The Master said, "I do not know. He who knew its meaning would find it as easy to govern the kingdom as to look on this"-pointing to his palm.
He sacrificed to the dead, as if they were present. He sacrificed to the spirits, as if the spirits were present.
The Master said, "I consider my not being present at the sacrifice, as if I did not sacrifice."
Wang-sun Chia asked, saying, "What is the meaning of the saying, ’It is better to pay court to the furnace then to the southwest corner?’"
The Master said, "Not so. He who offends against Heaven has none to whom he can pray."The Master said, "Chau had the advantage of viewing the two past dynasties. How complete and elegant are its regulations! I follow Chau."
The Master, when he entered the grand temple, asked about everything. Some one said, "Who say that the son of the man of Tsau knows the rules of propriety! He has entered the grand temple and asks about everything." The Master heard the remark, and said, "This is a rule of propriety."
The Master said, "In archery it is not going through the leather which is the principal thing;-because people’s strength is not equal. This was the old way."
Tsze-kung wished to do away with the offering of a sheep connected with the inauguration of the first day of each month.The Master said, "Ts’ze, you love the sheep; I love the ceremony."
The Master said, "The full observance of th
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