cter, look within, and
examine yourself.

"A son, in ministering to his parents, may (on occasion) offer gentle
remonstrances; when he sees that their will is not to heed such, he
should nevertheless still continue to show them reverent respect, never
obstinacy; and if he have to suffer, let him do so without murmuring.

"Whilst the parents are still living, he should not wander far; or, if
a wanderer, he should at least have some fixed address.

"If for three years he do not veer from the principles of his father,
he may be called a dutiful son.

"A son should not ignore the years of his parents. On the one hand,
they may be a matter for rejoicing (that they have been so many), and
on the other, for apprehension (that so few remain).

"People in olden times were loth to speak out, fearing the disgrace of
not being themselves as good as their words.

"Those who keep within restraints are seldom losers.

"To be slow to speak, but prompt to act, is the desire of the
'superior man.'

"Virtue dwells not alone: she must have neighbors."

An observation of Tsz-yu:--

"Officiousness, in the service of princes, leads to disgrace; among
friends, to estrangement."

BOOK V

_A Disciple and the Golden Rule--Miscellaneous_

The Master pronounced Kung-ye Ch[']ang, a disciple, to be a
marriageable person; for although lying bound in criminal fetters he
had committed no crime. And he gave him his own daughter to wife.

Of Nan Yung, a disciple, he observed, that in a State where the
government was well conducted he would not be passed over in its
appointments, and in one where the government was ill conducted he
would evade punishment and disgrace. And he caused his elder brother's
daughter to be given in marriage to him.

Of Tsz-tsien, a disciple, he remarked, "A superior man indeed is the
like of him! But had there been none of superior quality in Lu, how
should this man have attained to this excellence?"

Tsz-kung asked, "What of me, then?" "You," replied the Master--"You
are a receptacle." "Of what sort?" said he. "One for high and sacred
use," was the answer.

Some one having observed of Yen Yung that he was good-natured towards
others, but that he lacked the gift of ready speech, the Master said,
"What need of that gift? To stand up before men and pour forth a stream
of glib words is generally to make yourself obnoxious to them. I know
not about his good-naturedness; but at any rate what need of that