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chi k'ang； distressed about the number of thieves in the state； inquired ofconfucius how to do away with them。 confucius said； 〃if you； sir； were notcovetous； although you should reward them to do it； they would not steal。〃
chi k'ang asked confucius about government； saying； 〃what do you say tokilling the unprincipled for the good of the principled？〃 confucius replied；〃sir； in carrying on your government； why should you use killing at all？ letyour evinced desires be for what is good； and the people will be good。 therelation between superiors and inferiors is like that between the wind and thegrass。 the grass must bend； when the wind blows across it。〃
tsze…chang asked； 〃what must the officer be； who may be said to bedistinguished？〃
the master said； 〃what is it you call being distinguished？〃
tsze…chang replied； 〃it is to be heard of through the state； to be heard ofthroughout his clan。〃
the master said； 〃that is notoriety； not distinction。
〃now the man of distinction is solid and straightforward； and lovesrighteousness。 he examines people's words； and looks at their countenances。 heis anxious to humble himself to others。 such a man will be distinguished in thecountry； he will be distinguished in his clan。
〃as to the man of notoriety； he assumes the appearance of virtue； but hisactions are opposed to it； and he rests in this character without any doubtsabout himself。 such a man will be heard of in the country； he will be heard ofin the clan。〃
fan ch'ih rambling with the master under the trees about the rain altars；said； 〃i venture to ask how to exalt virtue； to correct cherished evil； and todiscover delusions。〃
the master said； 〃truly a good question！
〃if doing what is to be done be made the first business； and success asecondary consideration：…is not this the way to exalt virtue？ to assail one'sown wickedness and not assail that of others；…is not this the way to correctcherished evil？ for a morning's anger to disregard one's own life； and involvethat of his parents；…is not this a case of delusion？〃
fan ch'ih asked about benevolence。 the master said； 〃it is to love all men。〃he asked about knowledge。 the master said； 〃it is to know all men。〃
fan ch'ih did not immediately understand these answers。
the master said； 〃employ the upright and put aside all the crooked； in thisway the crooked can be made to be upright。〃
fan ch'ih retired； and； seeing tsze…hsia； he said to him； 〃a little whileago； i had an interview with our master； and asked him about knowledge。 he said；'employ the upright； and put aside all the crooked；…in this way； the crookedwill be made to be upright。' what did he mean？〃
tsze…hsia said； 〃truly rich is his saying！
〃shun； being in possession of the kingdom； selected from among all thepeople； and employed kai…yao…on which all who were devoid of virtue disappeared。t'ang； being in possession of the kingdom； selected from among all the people；and employed i yin…and an who were devoid of virtue disappeared。〃
tsze…kung asked about friendship。 the master said； 〃faithfully admonish yourfriend； and skillfully lead him on。 if you find him impracticable； stop。 do notdisgrace yourself。〃
the philosopher tsang said； 〃the superior man on grounds of culture meetswith his friends； and by friendship helps his virtue。〃
13
tsze…lu asked about government。 the master said； 〃go before the people withyour example； and be laborious in their affairs。〃
he requested further instruction； and was answered； 〃be not weary in thesethings。〃
chung…kung； being chief minister to the head of the chi family； asked aboutgovernment。 the master said； 〃employ first the services of your various officers；pardon small faults； and raise to office men of virtue and talents。〃
chung…kung said； 〃how shall i know the men of virtue and talent； so that imay raise them to office？〃 he was answered； 〃raise to office those whom you know。as to those whom you do not know； will others neglect them？〃
tsze…lu said； 〃the ruler of wei has been waiting for you； in order with youto administer the government。 what will you consider the first thing to bedone？〃
the master replied； 〃what is necessary is to rectify names。〃
〃so！ indeed！〃 said tsze…lu。 〃you are wide of the mark！ why must there besuch rectification？〃
the master said； 〃how uncultivated you are； yu！ a superior man； in regard towhat he does not know； shows a cautious reserve。
〃if names be not correct； language is not in accordance with the truth ofthings。 if language be not in accordance with the truth of things； affairscannot be carried on to success。
〃when affairs cannot be carried on to success； proprieties and music do notflourish。 when proprieties and music do not flourish； punishments will not beproperly awarded。 when punishments are not properly awarded； the people do notknow how to move hand or foot。
〃therefore a superior man considers it necessary that the names he uses maybe spoken appropriately； and also that what he speaks may be carried outappropriately。 what the superior man requires is just that in his words theremay be nothing incorrect。〃
fan ch'ih requested to be taught husbandry。 the master said； 〃i am not sogood for that as an old husbandman。〃 he requested also to be taught gardening；and was answered； 〃i am not so good for that as an old gardener。〃
fan ch'ih having gone out； the master said； 〃a small man； indeed； is fan hsu！if a superior man love propriety； the people will not dare not to be reverent。if he love righteousness； the people will not dare not to submit to his example。if he love good faith； the people will not dare not to be sincere。 now； whenthese things obtain； the people from all quarters will e to him； bearingtheir children on their backs； what need has he of a knowledge of husbandry？〃
the master said； 〃though a man may be able to recite the three hundred odes；yet if； when intrusted with a governmental charge； he knows not how to act； orif； when sent to any quarter on a mission； he cannot give his replies unassisted；notwithstanding the extent of his learning； of what practical use is it？〃
the master said； 〃when a prince's personal conduct is correct； hisgovernment is effective without the issuing of orders。 if his personal conductis not correct； he may issue orders； but they will not be followed。〃
the master said； 〃the governments of lu and wei are brothers。〃
the master said of ching； a scion of the ducal family of wei； that he knewthe economy of a family well。 when he began to have means； he said； 〃ha！ here isa collection…！〃 when they were a little increased； he said； 〃ha！ this isplete！〃 when he had bee rich； he said； 〃ha！ this is admirable！〃
when the master went to weil zan yu acted as driver of his carriage。
the master observed； 〃how numerous are the people！〃
yu said； 〃since they are thus numerous； what more shall be done for them？〃〃enrich them； was the reply。
〃and when they have been enriched； what more shall be done？〃 the master said；〃teach them。〃
the master said； 〃if there were any of the princes who would employ me； inthe course of twelve months； i should have done something considerable。 in threeyears； the government would be perfected。〃
the master said； 〃'if good men were to govern a country in succession for ahundred years； they would be able to transform the violently bad； and dispensewith capital punishments。' true indeed is this saying！〃
the master said； 〃if a truly royal ruler were to arise； it would stirrequire a generation； and then virtue would prevail。〃
the master said； 〃if a minister make his own conduct correct； whatdifficulty will he have in assisting in government？ if he cannot rectify himself；what has he to do with rectifying others？〃
the disciple zan returning from the court； the master said to him； 〃how areyou so late？〃 he replied； 〃we had government business。〃 the master said； 〃itmust have been family affairs。 if there had been government business； though iam not now in office； i should have been consulted about it。〃
the duke ting asked whether there was a single sentence which could make acountry prosperous。 confucius replied； 〃such an effect cannot be expected fromone sentence。
〃there is a saying； however； which people have …'to be a prince is difficult；to be a minister is not easy。'
〃if a ruler knows this；…the difficulty of being a prince；…may there not beexpected from this one sentence the prosperity of his country？〃
the duke then said； 〃is there a single sentence which can ruin a country？〃confucius replied； 〃such an effect as that cannot be expected from one sentence。there is； however； the saying which people have…'i have no pleasure in being aprince； but only in that no one can offer any opposition to what i say！'
〃if a ruler's words be good； is it not also good that no one oppose them？but if they are not good； and no one opposes them； may there not be expectedfrom this one sentence the ruin of his country？〃
the duke of sheh asked about government。
the master said； 〃good government obtains when those who are near are madehappy； and those who are far off are attracted。〃
tsze…hsia！ being governor of chu…fu； asked