Tsze-lu asked about government. The Master said, "Go before the people withyour example, and be laborious in their affairs."He requested further instruction, and was answered, "Be not weary in thesethings."Chung-kung, being chief minister to the head of the Chi family, asked aboutgovernment. The Master said, "Employ first the services of your variousofficers, pardon small faults, and raise to office men of virtue andtalents."Chung-kung said, "How shall I know the men of virtue and talent, so that Imay raise them to office?" He was answered, "Raise to office those whom youknow. As to those whom you do not know, will others neglect them?"Tsze-lu said, "The ruler of Wei has been waiting for you, in order with youto administer the government. What will you consider the first thing to bedone?"The Master replied, "What is necessary is to rectify names.""So! indeed!" said Tsze-lu. "You are wide of the mark! Why must there besuch rectification?"The Master said, "How uncultivated you are, Yu! A superior man, in regardto what he does not know, shows a cautious reserve.

　　"If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth ofthings. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairscannot be carried on to success.

　　"When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music do notflourish. When proprieties and music do not flourish, punishments will notbe properly awarded. When punishments are not properly awarded, the peopledo not know how to move hand or foot.

　　"Therefore a superior man considers it necessary that the names he uses maybe spoken appropriately, and also that what he speaks may be carried outappropriately. What the superior man requires is just that in his wordsthere may be nothing incorrect."Fan Ch'ih requested to be taught husbandry. The Master said, "I am not sogood for that as an old husbandman." He requested also to be taughtgardening, and was answered, "I am not so good for that as an oldgardener."Fan Ch'ih having gone out, the Master said, "A small man, indeed, is FanHsu! If a superior man love propriety, the people will not dare not to bereverent. If he love righteousness, the people will not dare not to submitto his example. If he love good faith, the people will not dare not to besincere. Now, when these things obtain, the people from all quarters willcome to him, bearing their children on their backs; what need has he of aknowledge of husbandry?"The Master said, "Though a man may be able to recite the three hundredodes, yet if, when intrusted with a governmental charge, he knows not howto act, or if, when sent to any quarter on a mission, he cannot give hisreplies unassisted, notwithstanding the extent of his learning, of whatpractical use is it?"The Master said, "When a prince's personal conduct is correct, hisgovernment is effective without the issuing of orders. If his personalconduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not befollowed."The Master said, "The governments of Lu and Wei are brothers."The Master said of Ching, a scion of the ducal family of Wei, that he knewthe economy of a family well. When he began to have means, he said, "Ha!

　　here is a collection-!" When they were a little increased, he said, "Ha!

　　this is complete!" When he had become rich, he said, "Ha! this isadmirable!"When the Master went to Weil Zan Yu acted as driver of his carriage.

　　The Master observed, "How numerous are the people!"Yu said, "Since they are thus numerous, what more shall be done for them?""Enrich them, was the reply.

　　"And when they have been enriched, what more shall be done?" The Mastersaid, "Teach them."The Master said, "If there were any of the princes who would employ me, inthe course of twelve months, I should have done something considerable. Inthree years, the government would be perfected."The Master said, "'If good men were to govern a country in succession for ahundred years, they would be able to transform the violently bad, anddispense with capital punishments.' True indeed is this saying!"The Master said, "If a truly royal ruler were to arise, it would stirrequire a generation, and then virtue would prevail."The Master said, "If a minister make his own conduct correct, whatdifficulty will he have in assisting in government? If he cannot rectifyhimself, what has he to do with rectifying others?"The disciple Zan returning from the court, the Master said to him, "How areyou so late?" He replied, "We had government business." The Master said,"It must have been family affairs. If there had been government business,though I am not now in office, I should have been consulted about it."The Duke Ting asked whether there was a single sentence which could make acountry prosperous. Confucius replied, "Such an effect cannot be expectedfrom one sentence.

　　"There is a saying, however, which people have -'To be a prince isdifficult; to be a minister is not ............