y not be conversant with petty details, and yet
may have important matters put into his hands. The inferior man may
not be charged with important matters, yet may be conversant with the
petty details.

"Good-fellowship is more to men than fire and water. I have seen men
stepping into fire and into water, and meeting with death thereby; I
have not yet seen a man die from planting his steps in the path of
good-fellowship.

"Rely upon good nature. 'Twill not allow precedence even to a teacher.

"The superior man is inflexibly upright, and takes not things upon
trust.

"In serving your prince, make your service the serious concern, and
let salary be a secondary matter.

"Where instruction is to be given, there must be no distinction of
persons.

"Where men's methods are not identical, there can be no planning by
one on behalf of another.

"In speaking, perspicuity is all that is needed."

When the blind music-master Mien paid him a visit, on his approaching
the steps the Master called out "Steps," and on his coming to the mat,
said "Mat." When all in the room were seated, the Master told him
"So-and-so is here, so-and-so is here."

When the music-master had left, Tsz-chang said to him, "Is that the
way to speak to the music-master?" "Well," he replied, "it is
certainly the way to assist him."

BOOK XVI

_Against Intestine Strife--Good and Bad Friendships_

The Chief of the Ki family was about to make an onslaught upon the
Chuen-yu domain.

Yen Yu and Tsz-lu in an interview with Confucius told him, "The Ki is
about to have an affair with Chuen-yu."

"Yen," said Confucius, "does not the fault lie with you? The Chief of
Chuen-yu in times past was appointed lord of the East Mung (mountain);
besides, he dwells within the confines of your own State, and is an
official of the State-worship; how can you think of making an
onslaught upon him?"

"It is the wish of our Chief," said Yen Yu, "not the wish of either of
us ministers."

Confucius said, "Yen, there is a sentence of Chau Jin which runs thus:
'Having made manifest their powers and taken their place in the
official list, when they find themselves incompetent they resign; if
they cannot be firm when danger threatens the government, nor lend
support when it is reeling, of what use then shall they be as
Assistants?'--Besides, you are wrong in what you said. When a
rhinoceros or tiger breaks out of its cage--when a jewel or
tortoise-shell ornament i