"Nay," said the Master, "you
have not got so far as that."

The same disciple once remarked, "There may be access so as to hear
the Master's literary discourses, but when he is treating of human
nature and the way of Heaven, there may not be such success."

Tsz-lu, after once hearing him upon some subject, and feeling himself
as yet incompetent to carry into practice what he had heard, used to
be apprehensive only lest he should hear the subject revived.

Tsz-kung asked how it was that Kung Wan had come to be so styled Wan
(the talented). The Master's answer was, "Because, though a man of an
active nature, he was yet fond of study, and he was not ashamed to
stoop to put questions to his inferiors."

Respecting Tsz-ch[']an,[12] the Master said that he had four of the
essential qualities of the 'superior man':--in his own private walk he
was humble-minded; in serving his superiors he was deferential; in his
looking after the material welfare of the people he was generously
kind; and in his exaction of public service from the latter he was just.

Speaking of Yen Ping, he said, "He was one who was happy in his mode
of attaching men to him. However long the intercourse, he was always
deferential to them."

Referring to Tsang Wan, he asked, "What is to be said of this man's
discernment?--this man with his tortoise-house, with the pillar-heads
and posts bedizened with scenes of hill and mere!"

Tsz-chang put a question relative to the chief Minister of Tsu,
Tsz-wan. He said, "Three times he became chief Minister, and on none
of these occasions did he betray any sign of exultation. Three times
his ministry came to an end, and he showed no sign of chagrin. He used
without fail to inform the new Minister as to the old mode of
administration. What say you of him?"

"That he was a loyal man," said the Master.

"But was he a man of fellow-feeling?" said the disciple.

"Of that I am not sure," he answered; "how am I to get at that?"

The disciple went on to say:--"After the assassination of the prince
of Ts[']i by the officer Ts[']ui, the latter's fellow-official Ch[']in
Wan, who had half a score teams of horses, gave up all, and turned his
back upon him. On coming to another State, he observed, 'There are
here characters somewhat like that of our minister Ts[']ui,' and he
turned his back upon them. Proceeding to a certain other State, he had
occasion to make the same remark, and left. What say you of him?"

"That he wa