e who have no eager desire to
learn; no encouraging hint do I give to those who show no anxiety to
speak out their ideas; nor have I anything more to say to those who,
after I have made clear one corner of the subject, cannot from that
give me the other three."

If the Master was taking a meal, and there were any in mourning beside
him, he would not eat to the full.

On one day on which he had wept, on that day he would not sing.

Addressing his favorite disciple, he said, "To you only and myself it
has been given to do this--to go when called to serve, and to go back
into quiet retirement when released from office."

Tsz-lu, hearing the remark said, "But if, sir, you had the handling of
the army of one of the greater States,[19] whom would you have
associated with you in that case?"

The Master answered:--

"Not the one 'who'll rouse the tiger,'
Not the one 'who'll wade the Ho;'

not the man who can die with no regret. He must be one who should
watch over affairs with apprehensive caution, a man fond of strategy,
and of perfect skill and effectiveness in it."

As to wealth, he remarked, "If wealth were an object that I could go
in quest of, I should do so even if I had to take a whip and do
grooms' work. But seeing that it is not, I go after those objects for
which I have a liking."

Among matters over which he exercised great caution were times of
fasting, war, and sickness.

When he was in the State of Ts[']i, and had heard the ancient Shau
music, he lost all perception of the taste of his meat. "I had no
idea," said he, "that music could have been brought to this pitch."

In the course of conversation Yen Yu said, "Does the Master take the
part of the Prince of Wei?" "Ah yes!" said Tsz-kung, "I will go and
ask him that."

On going in to him, that disciple began, "What sort of men were Peh-I
and Shuh Ts[']i?" "Worthies of the olden time," the Master replied.
"Had they any feelings of resentment?" was the next question. "Their
aim and object," he answered, "was that of doing the duty which every
man owes to his fellows, and they succeeded in doing it;--what room
further for feelings of resentment?" The questioner on coming out
said, "The Master does not take his part."

"With a meal of coarse rice," said the Master, "and with water to
drink, and my bent arm for my pillow--even thus I can find happiness.
Riches and honors without righteousness are to me as fleeting clouds."

"Give me severa