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

BOOK XVII
The Master Induced to Take Office—Nature and Habit
YANG
HO was desirous of having an interview with Con-
fucius, but on the latter's failing to go and see him, he
sent a present of a pig to his house. Confucius went
to return his acknowledgments for it at a time when he was
not at home. They met, however, on the way.
He said to Confucius, " Come, I want a word with you. Can
that man be said to have good-will towards his fellow-men who
hugs and hides his own precious gifts and allows his country to
go on in blind error ? "
" He cannot," was the reply.
" And can he be said to be wise who, with a liking for taking
part in the public service, is constantly letting slip his opportu-
nities?"
" He cannot," was the reply again.
" And the days and months are passing ;
wait for us."
" True," said Confucius ;
" I will take office."
and the years do not
It was a remark of the Master that while " by nature we approximate
towards each other, by experience we go far asun-
der."
Again, " Only the supremely wise and the most deeply ignor-
ant do not alter."
The Master once, on his arrival at Wu-shing, heard the
sound of stringed instruments and singing. His face beamed
with pleasure, and he said laughingly, " To kill a cock—why
use an ox-knife ? "
Tsz-yu, the governor, replied, " In former days, sir, I heard
you say, * Let the superior man learn right principles, and he
will be loving to other men ;
let the ordinary person learn right
principles, and he will be easily managed.' "
The Master (turning to his disciples) said, " Sirs, what he
says is right : what I said just now was only in play."
79