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

THE ANALECTS 77
ing regfularly throug^h the various branches of Ceremonial and
Music, in speaking of others' goodness, in having many worthy
wise friends, is profitable. To take pleasure in wild bold pleasures,
in idling carelessly about, in the too jovial accompaniments
of feasting, is detrimental."
Again, " Three errors there be, into which they who wait
upon their superior may fall :— (i) to speak before the opportu-
nity comes to them to speak, which I call heedless haste ;
fraining from speaking when the opportunity has come, which
I call concealment ; and (3) speaking, regardless of the mood
(2) re-
he is in, which I call blindness."
Again, " Three things a superior should guard against:— (i)
against the lusts of the flesh in his earlier years while the vital
powers are not fully developed and fixed ;
(2) against the spirit
of combativeness when he has come to the age of robust manhood
and when the vital powers are matured and strong, and (3)
against ambitiousness when old age has come on and the vital
powers have become weak and decayed."
"Three things also such a man greatly reveres:— (i) the
ordinances of Heaven, (2) great men, (3) words of sages. The
inferior man knows not the ordinances of Heaven and there-
fore reveres them not, is unduly familiar in the presence of great
men, and scoffs at the words of sages."
" They whose knowledge comes by birth are of all men the
first in understanding; they to whom it comes by study are
of poor intellectual capacity, who yet study, may be
and lowest of all are they who are
poor in intellect and never learn."
" Nine things there are of which the superior man should be
next ; men
added as a yet inferior class ;
mindful :—to be clear in vision, quick in hearing, genial in ex-
pression, respectful in demeanor, true in word, serious in duty,
inquiring in doubt, firmly self-controlled in anger, just and fair
when the way to success opens out before him."
" Some have spoken of ' looking upon goodness as upon
something beyond their reach,' and of ' looking upon evil as
like plunging one's hands into scalding liquid ' ;—I have seen
the men, I have heard the sayings.
" Some, again, have talked of ' living in seclusion to work out
their designs,' and of ' exercising themselves in righteous living
in order to render their principles the more effective ' ;—I have
heard the sayings, I have not seen the men."