The subjects of which the Master seldom spoke were-profitableness,and also the appointments of Heaven, and perfect virtue.

　　A man of the village of Ta-hsiang said, "Great indeed is the philosopherK'ung! His learning is extensive, and yet he does not render his namefamous by any particular thing."The Master heard the observation, and said to his disciples, "Whatshall I practice? Shall I practice charioteering, or shall I practicearchery? I will practice charioteering."The Master said, "The linen cap is that prescribed by the rules ofceremony, but now a silk one is worn. It is economical, and I followthe common practice.

　　"The rules of ceremony prescribe the bowing below the hall, but nowthe practice is to bow only after ascending it. That is arrogant.

　　I continue to bow below the hall, though I oppose the common practice."There were four things from which the Master was entirely free. Hehad no foregone conclusions, no arbitrary predeterminations, no obstinacy,and no egoism.

　　The Master was put in fear in K'wang.

　　He said, "After the death of King Wan, was not the cause of truthlodged here in me?

　　"If Heaven had wished to let this cause of truth perish, then I, afuture mortal! should not have got such a relation to that cause.

　　While Heaven does not let the cause of truth perish, what can thepeople of K'wang do to me?"A high officer asked Tsze-kung, saying, "May we not say that yourMaster is a sage? How various is his ability!"Tsze-kung said, "Certainly Heaven has endowed him unlimitedly. Heis about a sage. And, moreover, his ability is various."The Master heard of the conversation and said, "Does the high officerknow me? When I was young, my condition was low, and I acquired myability in many things, but they were mean matters. Must the superiorman have such variety of ability? He does not need variety of ability.

　　Lao said, "The Master said, 'Having no official employment, I acquiredmany arts.'"The Master said, "Am I indeed possessed of knowledge? I am not knowing.

　　But if a mean person, who appears quite empty-like, ask anything ofme, I set it forth from one end to the other, and exhaust it."The Master said, "The Fang bird does not come; the river sends forthno map:-it is all over with me!"When the Master saw a person in a mourning dress, or any one withthe cap and upper and lower garments of full dress, or a blind person,on observing them approaching, though they were younger than himself,he would rise up, and if he had to pass by them, he would do so hastily.

　　Yen Yuan, in admiration of the Master's doctrines, sighed and said,"I looked up to them, and they seemed to become more high; I triedto penetrate them, and they seemed to become more firm; I looked atthem before me, and suddenly they seemed to be behind.

　　"The Master, by orderly method, skillfully leads men on. He enlargedmy mind with learning, and taught me the restraints of propriety.

　　"When I wish to give over the study of his doctrines, I cannot doso, and having exerted all my ability, there seems something to standright up before me; but though I wish to follow and lay hold of it,I really find no way to do so."The Master being very ill, Tsze-lu wished the disciples to act asministers to him.

　　During a remission of his illness, he said, "Long has the conductof Yu been deceitful! By pretending to have ministers when I havethem not, whom should I impose upon? Should I impose upon Heaven?

　　"Moreover, than that I should die in the hands of ministers, is itnot better that I should die in the hands of you, my disciples? Andthough I may not get a great burial, shall I die upon the road?"Tsze-kung said, "There is a beautiful gem here. Should I lay it upin a c............