Yong Ye

Confucius said: "Ran Yong (Yong Ye) is qualified to hold office."

 

Zhong Gong asked Confucius about Sang Bozi. Confucius replied, "He is acceptable. He handles affairs with simplicity." Zhong Gong said, "If one governs with reverence and simplicity, would that not be proper? But if one acts carelessly and still claims simplicity, would that not be excessive?" Confucius said, "Your words are correct."

 

Duke Ai of Lu asked, "Which of your disciples loves learning most?" Confucius answered, "There was Yan Hui. He never transferred his anger nor repeated a fault. Sadly, he died young. Now there is none like him; I hear of no one who truly loves learning."

 

When Zi Hua was sent on a mission to Qi, Ran You requested grain for his mother. Confucius said, "Give her six dou and four sheng." Ran You asked for more. Confucius said, "Add two dou and four sheng." Yet Ran You gave eight hundred dou. Confucius remarked, "Zi Hua travels to Qi with fine horses and warm furs. I have heard: A gentleman aids the needy, not the wealthy."

 

Yuan Si served as Confucius’ steward and was offered nine hundred measures of grain. He declined. Confucius said, "Do not refuse. Share any surplus with your neighbors."

 

Speaking of Zhong Gong, Confucius said, "The calf of a plow-ox, with red fur and straight horns—though men may reject it, would the spirits of mountains and rivers abandon it?"

 

Confucius said of Yan Hui: "For months, his heart never strayed from ren (humaneness). Others attain it only briefly."

 

Ji Kangzi asked if Zhong You (Zi Lu) could govern. Confucius said, "He is decisive. Why should governing trouble him?" Asked about Duanmu Ci (Zi Gong), he replied, "He is perceptive. Governing would not trouble him." Of Ran Qiu, he said, "He is capable. Governing would not trouble him."

 

When the Ji family invited Min Ziqian to govern Fei, Min said to the messenger, "Politely decline for me. If they summon me again, I shall flee beyond the Wen River."

 

When Bo Niu fell ill, Confucius visited him. Holding his hand through the window, he sighed, "It is fate! Such a man, afflicted thus! Such a man, afflicted thus!"

 

Confucius said: "How noble was Yan Hui! With a basket of rice, a gourd of water, and a humble dwelling—others would despair, yet he remained joyful in learning. How noble!"

 

Ran Qiu said, "It is not that I dislike your teachings, but I lack the strength." Confucius replied, "Those who lack strength stop midway. You set limits before even trying."

 

To Zi Xia, Confucius said: "Be a scholar-gentleman (junzi ru), not a petty scholar (xiaoren ru)."

 

When Zi You governed Wucheng, Confucius asked, "Have you found talent there?" Zi You answered, "There is Dan Tai Mieming. He never takes crooked paths and visits only on official business."

 

Confucius said: "Meng Zhifan disliked boasting. During retreat, he guarded the rear. Nearing the gate, he whipped his horse, saying, ‘I dared not lag—my horse was slow!’"

 

Confucius said: "Without the eloquence of Zhu Tuo, but only the beauty of Prince Chao of Song, one would struggle to avoid misfortune today."

 

Confucius said: "Who can leave a house without passing through the door? Why does no one follow this Way (Dao)?"

 

Confucius said: "Excessive simplicity becomes rudeness; excessive refinement becomes frivolity. Only when simplicity and refinement harmonize does one become a gentleman."

 

Confucius said: "The upright survive; the devious survive only by luck, avoiding calamity."

 

Confucius said: "To know learning is inferior to loving it; to love it is inferior to finding joy in it."

 

Confucius said: "Those above average may grasp profound teachings; those below may not."

 

Fan Chi asked about wisdom. Confucius said, "Devote yourself to duty, respect spirits but keep them distant—this is wisdom." Asked about ren (humaneness), he said, "The humane toil first and claim reward last."

 

Confucius said: "The wise delight in water; the humane delight in mountains. The wise are active; the humane are still. The wise find joy; the humane find longevity."

 

Confucius said: "If Qi reformed, it could match Lu. If Lu reformed, it could attain the Great Way."

 

Confucius said: "A gu (ritual vessel) that is not a gu—is it still a gu? Is this a gu?"

 

Zai Wo asked: "Would a humane person jump into a well if told another humane person was inside?" Confucius said, "Why do so? A gentleman may rescue but not entrap himself. He may be deceived, not fooled."

 

Confucius said: "A gentleman studies widely and disciplines himself with ritual—thus he does not stray."

 

When Confucius met Lady Nanzi, Zi Lu disapproved. Confucius swore, "If I have done wrong, may Heaven forsake me! May Heaven forsake me!"

 

Confucius said: "The Mean (Zhongyong) as virtue is supreme! Long has it been rare among men."

 

Zi Gong asked: "If one could benefit the people widely and aid the masses, could he be called humane?" Confucius said, "More than humane—he would be a sage! Even Yao and Shun found this hard. The humane seek to establish themselves while establishing others, to succeed while helping others succeed. To extend oneself to others—this is the method of ren."

 

Yong Ye's Pictures