Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

THE ANALECTS 89
" 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 im-
punity 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 teach-
ing, 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 differentia:. 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 ? "
Further observations of Tsz-hia :
" In the public service devote what energy and time remain
to study. After study devote what energy and time remain to
the public service.
" As to the duties of mourning, let them cease when the grief
is past.
" My friend Tsz-chang, although he has the ability to tackle
hard things, has not yet the virtue of philanthropy."
—