Chapter 6: 雍也第六 — Lunyu — Taiyi Pavilion Chapter 6: 雍也第六
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The Master said, "Yong (Ran Yong) is worthy to be seated facing south (i.e., to rule as a sovereign)."
Zhonggong asked about Zisang Bozi. The Master said, "He is acceptable—he is simple and unadorned."
Zhonggong said, "To be reverent in one's inner self and yet simple in one's conduct when governing the people—is that not acceptable? But to be simple in one's inner self and also simple in one's conduct—would that not be excessive simplicity?" The Master said, "Yong, your words are correct."
Duke Ai asked, "Which of your disciples is fond of learning?" The Master replied, "There was Yan Hui who was fond of learning. He did not transfer his anger; he did not repeat a mistake. Unfortunately, his life was short, and he died. Now there is none—I have yet to hear of anyone who is fond of learning."
Zihua was sent on a mission to Qi. Ranzi requested grain for Zihua's mother. The Master said, "Give her a fu (a measure of grain)." Ranzi asked for more. The Master said, "Give her a yu (a larger measure)." Ranzi ended up giving her five bing (a very large amount).
The Master said, "When Chi (Zihua) went to Qi, he rode well-fed horses and wore light furs. I have heard that the noble person helps the urgent needy, not the already wealthy."
Yuan Si served as steward (for the Master). He was given nine hundred measures of grain but declined. The Master said, "Do not refuse! If you have too much, share it with your neighbors and villagers."
The Master said of Zhonggong, "If the calf of a plow ox has a red coat and well-formed horns, even if men are reluctant to use it for sacrifice, would the spirits of the mountains and rivers reject it?"
The Master said, "As for Hui (Yan Hui), his heart could remain for three months without departing from benevolence. The others only attain it occasionally—by days or months."
Ji Kangzi asked, "Can Zhong You (Zilu) be employed in government?" The Master said, "You (Zilu) is decisive—what difficulty would he have in governing?" He asked, "Can Ci (Zigong) be employed in government?" The Master said, "Ci is penetrating—what difficulty would he have in governing?" He asked, "Can Qiu (Ran You) be employed in government?" The Master said, "Qiu is versatile—what difficulty would he have in governing?"
The Ji family wanted to appoint Min Ziqian as steward of Fei. Min Ziqian said, "Politely decline for me. If they come for me again, I will surely be on the other side of the Wen River."
Bo Niu was ill. The Master went to visit him, took his hand through the window, and said, "We are losing him—such is fate! That such a man should have such an illness! That such a man should have such an illness!"
The Master said, "Virtuous indeed is Hui! A single bamboo bowl of rice, a single gourd of water, living in a narrow alley—others could not bear such distress, but Hui never changed his joy. Virtuous indeed is Hui!"
Ran Qiu said, "It is not that I do not delight in your Way—my strength is insufficient." The Master said, "Those whose strength is insufficient give up halfway. But you are drawing a boundary before even starting."
The Master said to Zixia, "Be a noble-minded scholar, not a petty-minded scholar."
Ziyou served as steward of Wucheng. The Master said, "Have you found any worthy people there?" He replied, "There is one named Tantai Mieming. He never takes shortcuts, and unless there is official business, he never comes to my private quarters."
The Master said, "Meng Zhifan did not boast of his courage. When the army was retreating, he was the last to cover the rear. As they were about to enter the gate, he whipped his horse and said, 'It is not that I dared to be last—my horse would not go faster.'"
The Master said, "Without the glib tongue of Zhu Tuo and the handsome face of Song Chao, it is hard to escape the troubles of this age."
The Master said, "Who can go out except through the door? Why does no one follow this Way?"
The Master said, "When substance overcomes refinement, you get crudeness. When refinement overcomes substance, you get superficiality. Only when substance and refinement are balanced do you have a noble person."
The Master said, "Human beings live by uprightness. Those who live without it survive only by luck."
The Master said, "Those who know it are not as good as those who love it. Those who love it are not as good as those who delight in it."
The Master said, "To those above average, you can speak of higher things. To those below average, you cannot speak of higher things."
Fan Chi asked about wisdom. The Master said, "To devote yourself to what is right for the people, to respect ghosts and spirits while keeping them at a distance—this can be called wisdom."
He asked about benevolence. The Master said, "The benevolent person first faces difficulties and then reaps rewards—this can be called benevolence."
The Master said, "The wise delight in water; the benevolent delight in mountains. The wise are active; the benevolent are still. The wise are joyful; the benevolent are long-lived."
The Master said, "If Qi were reformed, it would reach the level of Lu. If Lu were reformed, it would reach the Way."
The Master said, "A gu vessel that is not a proper gu—a gu indeed! A gu indeed!"
Zai Wo asked, "If someone told a benevolent person, 'There is a man in the well,' would he jump in after him?" The Master said, "Why would he do that? A noble person can be sent to help, but not trapped. He can be deceived, but not deluded."
The Master said, "A noble person, broadly studying culture and restraining himself with ritual, can thus avoid straying from the path."
The Master met Nanzi (the consort of Duke Ling of Wei). Zilu was displeased. The Master swore an oath, saying, "If I have done anything wrong, may Heaven reject me! May Heaven reject me!"
The Master said, "The virtue of the Mean is the highest! Among the people, it has been rare for a long time."
Zigong said, "If someone could broadly benefit the people and rescue the multitude, what would you say? Could that be called benevolence?" The Master said, "Why stop at benevolence? That would surely be sagehood! Even Yao and Shun found it difficult to achieve. The benevolent person: wishing to establish oneself, one establishes others; wishing to advance oneself, one advances others. To be able to take what is near at hand as an analogy—that is the method of benevolence."