onsequences those who are near and dear to
him--is not that an illusion?"

The same disciple asked him what was meant by "a right regard for
one's fellow-creatures." He replied, "It is love to man."

Asked by him again what was meant by wisdom, he replied, "It is
knowledge of man."

Fan Ch[']i did not quite grasp his meaning.

The Master went on to say, "Lift up the straight, set aside the
crooked, so can you make the crooked straight."

Fan Ch[']i left him, and meeting with Tsz-hia he said, "I had an
interview just now with the Master, and I asked him what wisdom was.
In his answer he said, 'Lift up the straight, set aside the crooked,
and so can you make the crooked straight.' What was his meaning?"

"Ah! words rich in meaning, those," said the other. "When Shun was
emperor, and was selecting his men from among the multitude, he
'lifted up' Kau-yau; and men devoid of right feelings towards their
kind went far away. And when T[']ang was emperor, and chose out his
men from the crowd, he 'lifted up' I-yin--with the same result."

Tsz-kung was consulting him about a friend. "Speak to him frankly, and
respectfully," said the Master, "and gently lead him on. If you do not
succeed, then stop; do not submit yourself to indignity."

The learned Tsang observed, "In the society of books the 'superior
man' collects his friends; in the society of his friends he is
furthering good-will among men."

[Footnote 29: From Confucius, it is generally thought.]

BOOK XIII

_Answers on the Art of Governing--Consistency_

Tsz-lu was asking about government. "Lead the way in it," said the
Master, "and work hard at it."

Requested to say more, he added, "And do not tire of it."

Chung-kung, on being made first minister to the Chief of the Ki
family, consulted the Master about government, and to him he said,
"Let the heads of offices be heads. Excuse small faults. Promote men
of sagacity and talent."

"But," he asked, "how am I to know the sagacious and talented, before
promoting them?"

"Promote those whom you do know," said the Master.

"As to those of whom you are uncertain, will others omit to notice
them?"

Tsz-lu said to the Master, "As the prince of Wei, sir, has been
waiting for you to act for him in his government, what is it your
intention to take in hand first?"

"One thing of necessity," he answered--"the rectification of terms."

"That!" exclaimed Tsz-lu. "How far away you are, sir! Why such
recti