(6 When an inferior man does a wrong thing, he is sure to gloss it over. 66 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 impunity 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 practise of the higher virtues, there may be freedom to pass in and out in the practise of the lower ones." Tsze-yu had said, "The pupils in the school of Tsze-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 Tsze-hia, he said, "Ah! there he is mistaken. What does a master, in his methods of teaching, 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 differentiæ. 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 Tsze-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 Tsze-chang, although he has the ability to tackle hard things, has not yet the virtue of philanthropy." The learned Tsang observed, "How loftily Tsze-chang bears himself! Difficult indeed along with him to practise philanthropy!" Again he said, "I have heard this said by the Master, that though men may not exert themselves to the utmost in other duties, yet surely in the duty of mourning for their parents they will do so!"" Again, "This also I have heard said by the Master: 'The filial piety of Mang Chwang in other respects might be equaled, but as manifested in his making no changes among his father's ministers, nor in his father's mode of government that aspect of it could not easily be equaled." " Yang Fu, having been made senior Criminal Judge by the Chief of the Mang clan, consulted with the learred Tsang. The latter advised him as follows: "For a long time the Chiefs have failed in their government, and the people have become unsettled. When you arrive at the facts of their cases, do not rejoice at your success in that, but rather be sorry for them, and have pity upon them." Tsze-kung once observed, "We speak of the iniquity of Chau,'- but 'twas not so great as this. And so it is that the superior man is averse from settling in this sink, into which everything runs that is foul in the empire." Again he said, “Faults in a superior man are like eclipses of the sun or moon: when he is guilty of a trespass men all see it; and when he is himself again, all look up to him." Kung-sun Ch'au of Wei inquired of Tsze-kung how Confucius acquired his learning. Tsze-kung replied, "The teachings of Wan and Wu have not yet fallen to the ground. They exist in men. Worthy and wise men have the more important of these stored up in their minds; and others, who are not such, store up the less important of them; and as no one is thus without the teachings of Wan and Wu, how should our Master not have learned? And moreover what permanent preceptor could he have?" |