"
Addressing Tsz-kung, the Master said, "You regard me as one who studies
and stores up in his mind a multiplicity of things--do you not?"--"I
do," he replied; "is it not so?"--"Not at all. I have one idea--one cord
on which to string all."
To Tsz-lu he remarked, "They who know Virtue are rare."
"If you would know one who without effort ruled well, was not Shun such
a one? What did he indeed do? He bore himself with reverent dignity and
undeviatingly 'faced the south,' and that was all."
Tsz-chang was consulting him about making way in life. He answered, "Be
true and honest in all you say, and seriously earnest in all you do, and
then, even if your country be one inhabited by barbarians, South or
North, you will make your way. If you do not show yourself thus in word
and deed how should you succeed, even in your own district or
neighborhood?--When you are afoot, let these two counsels be two
companions preceding you, yourself viewing them from behind; when you
drive, have them in view as on the yoke of your carriage. Then may you
make your way."
Tsz-chang wrote them on the two ends of his cincture.
"Straight was the course of the Annalist Yu," said the Master--"aye,
straight as an arrow flies; were the country well governed or ill
governed, his was an arrow-like course.
"A man of masterly mind, too, is Kue Pih-yuh! When the land is being
rightly governed he will serve; when it is under bad government he is
apt to recoil, and brood.
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