The Analects
Book 19 · Zizhang
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Zizhang · 19.1
Zizhang said, “A person of service who gives his life when facing danger, thinks of rightness when seeing gain, thinks of reverence at sacrifices, and thinks of grief in mourning may be considered adequate.”
Zizhang · 19.2
Zizhang said, “If one holds virtue without breadth and trusts the Way without firmness, what does one's presence add? What does one's absence take away?”
Zizhang · 19.3
Zixia's disciples asked Zizhang about friendship. Zizhang said, “What does Zixia say?”
They replied, “Zixia says, ‘Associate with those who are suitable; reject those who are not.’”
Zizhang said, “That differs from what I have heard: ‘The exemplary person honors the worthy and makes room for the many, praises the good and feels concern for those who lack ability.’ If I am greatly worthy, whom could I not make room for? If I am not worthy, others will reject me. How could I reject them?”
Zizhang · 19.4
Zixia said, “Even minor arts are sure to contain something worth observing. But if one aims to go far, they may become an obstacle. That is why the exemplary person does not make them his main pursuit.”
Zizhang · 19.5
Zixia said, “Each day, learn something you did not know; each month, do not forget what you can already do. That may be called loving learning.”
Zizhang · 19.6
Zixia said, “Learn broadly and hold firmly to your purpose. Ask earnestly and reflect on what is close at hand. Humaneness is found within this.”
Zizhang · 19.7
Zixia said, “The many craftspeople remain in their workshops to complete their work. The exemplary person learns in order to bring his Way to fulfillment.”
Zizhang · 19.8
Zixia said, “When the petty person makes a mistake, he is sure to dress it up.”
Zizhang · 19.9
Zixia said, “The exemplary person presents three different aspects: from a distance, dignified; up close, warm; when speaking, serious and exacting.”
Zizhang · 19.10
Zixia said, “The exemplary person first wins the people's trust, then puts them to work. Before they trust him, they will think he is harming them. He first wins his ruler's trust, then offers correction. Before the ruler trusts him, he will think he is being slandered.”
Zizhang · 19.11
Zixia said, “Do not cross the boundary in matters of great virtue. In smaller matters, some variation is permissible.”
Zizhang · 19.12
Ziyou said, “Zixia's young disciples can manage sprinkling and sweeping, answering questions, and advancing or withdrawing properly. But these are only the branches. They lack the root. How can that do?”
Zixia heard of this and said, “Alas! Yan You is wrong! In the exemplary person's Way, do I teach some things first and then neglect the others left for later? Consider plants and trees: they are distinguished by their different kinds. How can the exemplary person's Way be misrepresented like this? Only a sage, perhaps, can encompass it from beginning to end!”
Zizhang · 19.13
Zixia said, “If serving in office leaves strength to spare, study. If studying leaves strength to spare, serve in office.”
Zizhang · 19.14
Ziyou said, “Mourning should go as far as fully expressing grief, and stop there.”
Zizhang · 19.15
Ziyou said, “My friend Zhang can do things that are difficult to accomplish, yet he has not attained humaneness.”
Zizhang · 19.16
Master Zeng said, “How imposing Zhang is! Yet it is difficult to practice humaneness alongside him.”
Zizhang · 19.17
Master Zeng said, “I heard the Master say, ‘People seldom express themselves to the fullest. If they do, surely it is in mourning for their parents.’”
Zizhang · 19.18
Master Zeng said, “I heard the Master say, ‘Other aspects of Meng Zhuangzi's filial conduct could be matched. What was difficult to match was that he did not replace his father's ministers or alter his father's policies.’”
Zizhang · 19.19
The Meng family appointed Yang Fu as judge. He asked Master Zeng for advice. Master Zeng said, “Those above have lost the Way, and the people's loyalties have long been scattered. If you discover the true facts of a case, respond with sorrow and compassion, not delight.”
Zizhang · 19.20
Zigong said, “Zhou's wickedness was not as extreme as people say. That is why the exemplary person dislikes settling in a low place: all the world's evils flow toward it.”
Zizhang · 19.21
Zigong said, “The exemplary person's faults are like eclipses of the sun and moon. When he errs, everyone sees it. When he corrects himself, everyone looks up to him.”
Zizhang · 19.22
Gongsun Chao of Wei asked Zigong, “Where did Zhongni learn?”
Zigong said, “The Way of Kings Wen and Wu has not fallen to the ground; it survives among people. The worthy remember its greater aspects, and those less worthy remember its smaller aspects. There is no one without something of the Way of Wen and Wu. Where could the Master not learn? Why would he need a single fixed teacher?”
Zizhang · 19.23
Shusun Wushu said to the great officers at court, “Zigong is worthier than Zhongni.” Zifu Jingbo reported this to Zigong.
Zigong said, “Take the walls of a residence as a comparison. My wall comes only to the shoulder, so one can peer over it and see what is attractive in the house. The Master's wall is several times a person's height. Unless one finds the gate and enters, one cannot see the beauty of the ancestral temples or the abundance of the many buildings. Perhaps few find that gate. Is it not understandable that the gentleman should speak as he does?”
Zizhang · 19.24
Shusun Wushu disparaged Zhongni. Zigong said, “Do not bother! Zhongni cannot be disparaged. The excellence of others is like hills and mounds: one can still climb over them. Zhongni is like the sun and moon: there is no way to climb beyond them. Even if someone chooses to cut himself off from them, what harm does that do to the sun and moon? It only shows that he does not know his own measure!”
Zizhang · 19.25
Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, “You are only being modest. Surely Zhongni is not worthier than you?”
Zigong said, “A single statement can make an exemplary person seem wise, and a single statement can make him seem unwise. One must be careful in speaking! The Master is as impossible to equal as the sky is impossible to reach by climbing steps.
“If the Master were given a state or a great household to govern, he would fulfill the saying: ‘Set the people on their feet, and they stand; guide them, and they follow; give them peace, and they come; mobilize them, and they act in harmony. While he lives, he is honored; when he dies, he is mourned.’ How could anyone equal him?”
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