"
"Let good and able men discipline the people for seven years," said the
Master, "and after that they may do to go to war."
But, said he, "To lead an undisciplined people to war--that I call
throwing them away."
BOOK XIV
Good and Bad Government--Miscellaneous Sayings
Yuen Sz asked what might be considered to bring shame on one.
"Pay," said the Master; "pay--ever looking to that, whether the country
be well or badly governed."
"When imperiousness, boastfulness, resentments, and covetousness cease
to prevail among the people, may it be considered that mutual good-will
has been effected?" To this question the Master replied, "A hard thing
overcome, it may be considered. But as to the mutual good-will--I cannot
tell."
"Learned officials," said he, "who hanker after a home life, are not
worthy of being esteemed as such."
Again, "In a country under good government, speak boldly, act boldly.
When the land is ill-governed, though you act boldly, let your words be
moderate."
Again, "Men of virtue will needs be men of words--will speak out--but
men of words are not necessarily men of virtue. They who care for their
fellow-men will needs be bold, but the bold may not necessarily be such
as care for their fellow-men."
Nan-kung Kwoh, who was consulting Confucius, observed respecting I, the
skilful archer, and Ngau, who could propel a boat on dry land, that
neither of them died a natural death; while Yu and Tsih, who with their
own hands had labored at husbandry, came to wield imperial sway.
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