Zi Zhang, Chapter 19
Zizhang said, “A scholar-official who is willing to sacrifice his life when faced with danger, thinks of righteousness when seeing profit, shows reverence in sacrifice, and expresses grief in mourning—this is acceptable.”
Zizhang said, “If one’s grasp of virtue is not broad and one’s faith in the Way is not firm, how can such a person be considered as having anything? How can they be considered as lacking anything?”
Zixia’s disciples asked Zizhang about making friends. Zizhang said, “What does Zixia say?” The disciples replied, “Zixia says: ‘Associate with those who are worthy of association; reject those who are not.’” Zizhang said, “This is different from what I have heard: ‘The noble person respects the worthy and embraces the multitude, praises the good and pities the incapable.’ If I am a great worthy, what is there in others that I cannot tolerate? If I am not worthy, others will reject me—how then can I reject others?”
Zixia said, “Even minor arts and skills must have something worthy in them; but if one pursues them too far, they may hinder greater endeavors. Therefore, the noble person does not engage in them.”
Zixia said, “Daily knowing what one does not yet know, and monthly not forgetting what one has already mastered—this can be called loving learning.”
Zixia said, “Broadly learning and firmly holding to one’s aspirations, earnestly questioning and reflecting on what is near at hand—Ren (benevolence) resides in this.”
Zixia said, “Artisans complete their work in their workshops; the noble person acquires the Way through learning.”
Zixia said, “When the petty person commits an error, he always tries to cover it up.”
Zixia said, “The noble person has three aspects that change: seen from afar, his appearance is solemn; when approached, he is warm; when he speaks, his words are stern.”
Zixia said, “The noble person first gains trust, and then he employs the people; without trust, the people would think they are being exploited. He first gains trust, and then he remonstrates; without trust, the ruler would think he is being slandered.”
Zixia said, “In great matters of virtue, one must not cross the boundary; in small matters, some latitude is acceptable.”
Ziyou said, “Zixia’s disciples, in sprinkling and sweeping floors, in responding to guests, and in advancing and retreating with ritual propriety, are acceptable. But these are mere trivialities; they lack the root—how can this be?” When Zixia heard this, he said, “Alas! Ziyou is mistaken! The Way of the noble person—which part is transmitted first, and which part is set aside? It is like plants and trees: they must be distinguished by category. How can the Way of the noble person be distorted? Only a sage, perhaps, can begin and end it!”
Zixia said, “When one has spare energy after serving in office, let him learn; when one has spare energy after learning, let him serve in office.”
Ziyou said, “In mourning, it is enough to express grief to the utmost.”
Ziyou said, “My friend Zizhang is admirable in what is hard to achieve, yet he has not attained Ren (benevolence).”
Zengzi said, “Zizhang appears impressive and imposing, but it is difficult to practice Ren (benevolence) together with him.”
Zengzi said, “I have heard from the Master: ‘People do not fully express their inner feelings on their own; if they do, it must be at the time of a parent’s death!’”
Zengzi said, “I have heard from the Master: ‘In the filial piety of Meng Zhuangzi, others might match him in other respects, but his not replacing his father’s ministers and not altering his father’s policies—this is what is hard to achieve.’”
The Meng family appointed Yang Fu as a judge. Yang Fu consulted Zengzi. Zengzi said, “Those above have lost the Way, and the people have long been estranged! If you uncover the truth of a case, you should feel compassion for them, not take delight in it.”
Zigong said, “The wickedness of King Zhou was not as extreme as tradition says. Therefore, the noble person despises being in a lowly position, for once there, all the world’s evil reputations will be heaped upon him.”
Zigong said, “The errors of the noble person are like eclipses of the sun or moon. When he errs, everyone sees it; when he corrects himself, everyone looks up to him.”
Gongsun Chao of Wei asked Zigong, “From whom did Zhongni learn his knowledge?” Zigong said, “The Way of King Wen and King Wu has not fallen to the ground; it still exists among men. The worthy understand its great aspects, the unworthy understand its small aspects—nowhere is the Way of Wen and Wu absent. Where did the Master not learn? And why must he have a fixed teacher?”
Shusun Wushu said to the grandees in court, “Zigong is more worthy than Zhongni.” Zifu Jingbo reported this to Zigong. Zigong said, “Let me use the analogy of a wall. My wall reaches only to shoulder height, so one can peek over and see the beauty of the house within. The Master’s wall is several times the height of a man; if one does not find the gate to enter, one cannot see the splendor of the ancestral temple or the richness of the many officials. Few indeed are those who find the gate! Is it not natural that Shusun Wushu speaks as he does?”
Shusun Wushu slandered Zhongni. Zigong said, “Do not do this! Zhongni cannot be slandered. Other worthy men are like hills or mounds, which can be climbed over. Zhongni is like the sun or moon—he cannot be climbed over. Even if a person wishes to cut himself off from the sun or moon, what harm does it do to them? It only shows that he does not know his own limits!”
Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, “You are too humble. Is Zhongni really more worthy than you?” Zigong said, “The noble person can show wisdom by one word, or show folly by one word—speech must not be incautious! The Master cannot be equaled, just as the heavens cannot be climbed by a ladder. If the Master were to obtain a state or a fief, then, as the saying goes: When he establishes teaching, the people stand; when he leads them, they follow; when he brings peace, they come; when he mobilizes them, they are harmonious. In life, he was glorious; in death, he is mourned—how could anyone catch up with him?”