Book 13
13.1
Zilu asked about governance. The Master said, "Be first to the task and comfort others at their labors."
When asked for more, he said, "Be tireless."
13.2
Zhonggong was serving as steward for the Ji family. He asked about governance. The Master said, "Provide a leading example to your officers. Pardon minor offences. Raise up the worthy."
"How can I recognize who has worthy abilities so I can raise them up?"
"Raise up those you recognize. As for those you don't recognize, will the others let you do without them?"
13.3
Zilu said, "If the ruler of Wei were to entrust you with governance of his state, what would be your first priority."
The Master said, "Most certainly, it would be to rectify names."
Zilu said, "Is that so? How strange of you! How would this set things right?"
The Master said, "What a boor you are, Yóu! A junzi keeps silent about things he doesn't understand.
"If names are not right then speech does not accord with things; if speech is not in accord with things, then affairs cannot be successful; when affairs are not successful, li and music do not flourish; when li and music do not flourish, then sanctions and punishments miss their mark; when sanctions and punishments miss their mark, the people have no place to set their hands and feet.
"Therefore, when a junzi gives things names, they may be properly spoken of, and what is said may be properly enacted. With regard to speech, the junzi permits no carelessness."
13.4
Fan Chi asked to learn about farming grain. The Master said, "Better to ask an old peasant." He asked about raising vegetables. "Better to ask an old gardener."
When Fan Chi left, the Master said, "What a small man Fan Xu is! If a ruler loved li, none among the people would dare be inattentive; if a ruler loved right, none would dare be unsubmissive; if a ruler loved trustworthiness, none would dare be insincere. The people of the four quarters would come to him with their children strapped on their backs. Why ask about farming?"
13.5
The Master said, If a man can recite from memory the three hundred odes of the Poetry but, when you entrust him with governance, he is unable to express his meaning, or, when you send him to the four quarters on diplomatic missions, he is unable to make replies on his own initiative, though he may have learned much, of what use is he?
13.6
The Master said, If he is upright in his person, he will perform without orders. If he is not upright in his person, though you give him orders, he will not carry them out.
13.7
The Master said, The governments of the states of Lu and Wei are like older and younger brothers among us.
13.8
The Master commented that Prince Jing of Wei handled possessing his residences well. When he first possessed a home he said, "This is truly a good fit." When he came to have some luxuries he said, "This is truly complete." When he became wealthy he said, "This is truly beautiful."
13.9
The Master traveled to the state of Wei. Ran Yǒu drove his chariot. The Master said, "How populous it is!"
Ran Yǒu said, "As Wei is already populous, what would you add?"
"Enrich them."
"Once the people were enriched, what would you add?"
"Teach them."
13.10
The Master said, If there were someone who would employ me, things would be in hand within a year on the. In three years, they would have come to success.