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

THE ANALECTS 57
standard of virtue? And is not attacking the evil in one's self,
and not the evil which is in others, a way of reforming dissolute
habits ? And as to illusions, is not one morning's fit of anger,
causing a man to forget himself, and even involving in the con-
sequences those who are near and dear to him—is not that an
illusion? "
The same disciple asked him what was meant by " a right regard
for one's fellow-creatures." He replied, " It is love to
man."
Asked by him again what was meant by wisdom, he replied,
" It is knowledge of man."
Fan Ch'i did not quite grasp his meaning.
The Master went on to say, " Lift up the straight, set aside
the crooked, so can you make the crooked straight."
Fan Ch'i left him, and meeting with Tsz-hia he said, " I had
an interview just now with the Master, and I asked him what
wisdom was. In his answer he said, * Lift up the straight, set
aside the crooked, and so can you make the crooked straight.'
What was his meaning? "
" Ah ! words rich in meaning, those," said the other.
" When Shun was emperor, and was selecting his men from
among the multitude, he ' lifted up ' Kau-yau ; and men devoid
of right feelings towards their kind went far away. And when
T'ang was emperor, and chose out his men from the crowd, he
' lifted up ' I-yin—with the same result."
Tsz-kung was consulting him about a friend. " Speak to
him frankly, and respectfully," said the Master, " and gently
lead him on. If you do not succeed, then stop ; do not submit
yourself to indignity."
The learned Tsang observed, " In the society of books the
' superior man ' collects his friends ; in the society of his friends
he is furthering good-will among men."