The Analects
Book 15 · Duke Ling of Wei
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Duke Ling of Wei · 15.1
Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about battle formations. Confucius replied, “I have heard something of sacrificial vessels and ceremonies, but I have not studied military affairs.” The next day he left.
In Chen, their food ran out. His followers became so weak that none could rise. Zilu came to him resentfully and said, “Can an exemplary person also be reduced to such hardship?” The Master said, “The exemplary person remains steadfast in hardship. When the petty person meets hardship, he abandons all restraint.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.2
The Master said, “Ci, do you think I am someone who learns many things and remembers each of them?” Zigong replied, “Yes. Is that not so?” The Master said, “No. I draw them together with one unifying thread.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.3
The Master said, “You, those who truly understand virtue are few!”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.4
The Master said, “Was it not Shun who governed without forcing things? What did he do? He simply held himself reverently and took his proper place facing south.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.5
Zizhang asked how to make his way in the world. The Master said, “Be wholehearted and trustworthy in speech, and sincere and reverent in conduct. Then you can make your way even in the lands of the Man and Mo peoples. If your speech is not wholehearted and trustworthy, and your conduct not sincere and reverent, can you make your way even in your own neighborhood?
“When standing, see these commitments before you. When in a carriage, see them resting on the crossbar. Only then can you make your way.”
Zizhang wrote these words on the sash hanging from his waist.
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.6
The Master said, “How upright Shi Yu was! When the state followed the Way, he was straight as an arrow; when the state did not follow the Way, he was straight as an arrow. What an exemplary person Qu Boyu was! When the state followed the Way, he took office; when it did not, he could roll up his abilities and keep them to himself.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.7
The Master said, “If you fail to speak with someone worth speaking with, you lose a person. If you speak with someone not worth speaking with, you waste words. The wise lose neither people nor words.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.8
The Master said, “People of firm purpose and humaneness do not seek to preserve life at the expense of humaneness. They may give up their lives to fulfill humaneness.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.9
Zigong asked how to practice humaneness. The Master said, “A craftsperson who wishes to work well must first sharpen the tools. When living in a state, serve its worthy great officers and befriend its humane people of service.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.10
Yan Yuan asked how to govern a state. The Master said, “Follow the calendar of Xia, ride in the carriage of Yin, wear the ceremonial cap of Zhou, and use the Shao music and dances. Exclude the music of Zheng and keep glib flatterers at a distance. The music of Zheng is licentious; glib flatterers are dangerous.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.11
The Master said, “A person without far-reaching thought is sure to have worries close at hand.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.12
The Master said, “It is hopeless! I have yet to see someone who loves virtue as much as physical beauty!”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.13
The Master said, “Was Zang Wenzhong not occupying a stolen position? He knew Liuxia Hui was worthy, yet did not allow him to stand beside him in office.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.14
The Master said, “Demand much of yourself and be sparing in your blame of others; then you will keep resentment far away.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.15
The Master said, “With someone who never asks, ‘What should I do? What should I do?’ I myself do not know what to do!”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.16
The Master said, “To gather all day, never speak of what is right, and delight in petty cleverness—how difficult it is for such people to make progress!”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.17
The Master said, “The exemplary person makes rightness the substance of action, carries it out through ritual propriety, expresses it with modesty, and completes it through trustworthiness. Such a person is exemplary indeed!”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.18
The Master said, “The exemplary person is troubled by a lack of ability, not by other people's failure to recognize him.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.19
The Master said, “The exemplary person is troubled by reaching the end of life without a name worth honoring.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.20
The Master said, “The exemplary person seeks what is needed in himself; the petty person seeks it in others.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.21
The Master said, “The exemplary person is dignified without being contentious, and joins others without forming a faction.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.22
The Master said, “The exemplary person does not advance someone on words alone, nor reject good words because of the person who spoke them.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.23
Zigong asked, “Is there a single word that one can practice throughout one's life?” The Master said, “Perhaps reciprocity: do not impose on others what you yourself do not want.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.24
The Master said, “In dealing with people, whom have I arbitrarily disparaged or excessively praised? If I praise someone, that person has been tested. These are the people whom the Three Dynasties treated according to the straight Way.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.25
The Master said, “I still lived to see historians leave gaps where the wording was uncertain, and horse owners lend their horses for others to ride. Such practices are gone now!”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.26
The Master said, “Clever words disrupt virtue. Failure to bear with a small matter disrupts a great plan.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.27
The Master said, “When everyone dislikes someone, you must examine the matter. When everyone likes someone, you must examine the matter.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.28
The Master said, “People can broaden the Way; the Way does not broaden people by itself.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.29
The Master said, “To make a mistake and not correct it—that is what truly deserves to be called a mistake.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.30
The Master said, “I once spent a whole day without eating and a whole night without sleeping, in order to think. It was of no benefit. Learning is better.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.31
The Master said, “The exemplary person plans for the Way, not for food. Even in farming, hunger may be found; even in learning, a salary may be found. The exemplary person is concerned about the Way, not about poverty.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.32
The Master said, “If wisdom can attain something but humaneness cannot preserve it, even after gaining it one will surely lose it. If wisdom can attain it and humaneness can preserve it, but one does not preside over the people with dignity, they will not be respectful. If wisdom can attain it, humaneness can preserve it, and one presides over the people with dignity, but does not guide their actions through ritual propriety, it is still not good enough.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.33
The Master said, “The exemplary person cannot be judged by small tasks, yet can be entrusted with great responsibilities. The petty person cannot be entrusted with great responsibilities, yet may show ability in small tasks.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.34
The Master said, “The people need humaneness even more than water and fire. I have seen people die after stepping into water or fire; I have never seen anyone die from stepping into humaneness.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.35
The Master said, “When humaneness calls for action, do not yield even to your teacher.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.36
The Master said, “The exemplary person is steadfast in what is right, without being bound by narrow fidelity to every promise.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.37
The Master said, “In serving a ruler, be reverent in your duties and put your salary afterward.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.38
The Master said, “In education, there should be no exclusion by class or kind.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.39
The Master said, “Those who follow different ways cannot plan together.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.40
The Master said, “Words need only convey their meaning clearly.”
Duke Ling of Wei · 15.41
Music Master Mian came to see Confucius. When he reached the steps, the Master said, “Here are the steps.” When he reached the mat, the Master said, “Here is the mat.” After everyone had sat down, the Master told him, “So-and-so is here, and so-and-so is here.”
After Master Mian left, Zizhang asked, “Is that the way to speak with a music master?”
The Master said, “Yes. That is indeed the way to assist a blind music master.”
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