acquired aptitude for such employment. Be not
afflicted because you are unknown, but endeavour
to be worthy of being known."

"Who can carve on rotten wood? Who can
paint white a wall of soft mud? He who
merely knows what is right, does not equal him
who does what is right, nor is he who loves what
is right equal to him who delights to practise it."

"To meditate in silence and create fit objects
for meditation—to pursue study without flinching
—to instruct men without being discouraged
—when shall I possess these virtues?"

"From you, my disciples, I have concealed no
doctrines, all that I have done I have communicated
to you."

"The first effort should be to become virtuous;
the gathering the fruits of virtue is secondary
to this."

"He is a true man who, in the sight of profit,
thinks of justice; of danger, risks his life; and
who, without obligation, remembers a promise he
has made."

"The superior man rises higher and higher in
intelligence and sagacity; the inferior sinks lower
and lower in ignorance and vice."

"Judge yourself severely and judge others
indulgently, so you will be secured against ill will."

"The superior man, seen in the distance, seems
grave and austere; when approached he is found
gentle and affable, though his words may be
severe."

"There are five excellent things for rulers. To
scatter benefits without prodigality; to obtain
the services of the people without exciting their
hate; to raise the revenues without cupidity;
to be dignified without ostentation; to be
majestic without harshness."

"The superior man depends upon himself, the
vulgar expects everything from others."

"The superior man is firm in his purpose, he
seeks no misunderstandings; he lives in peace
with the crowd; but is not of the crowd."

"Words ought not to be accepted because
uttered by the lofty, nor rejected because
uttered by the lowly."

"The arts of language may pervert virtue; and
a capricious impatience ruin the noblest
projects."

"Be not anxious about eating and drinking;
hunger may visit even the husbandman; but
study brings its own felicity."

"There are nine fit objects for the meditation
of the sage; he looks on that he may be
enlightened; he listens that he may be instructed;
in his air and attitude he preserves sense and
sincerity; in his countenance gravity and
dignity; in his words sincerity and truth; by
his actions he makes himself respected; in his
doubts he seeks advice; in his anger he
represses his agitation; when lucre tempts him
bethinks of justice."

"By nature we nearly resemble one another;
condition separates us very far."

"As the heavens have not two suns, so the
people have not two sovereigns."

"Under good government poverty and misery
are no shame; under bad government shame
belongs to riches and honours; under good
government act boldly and worthily, and speak
boldly and worthily; under bad government act
boldly and worthily, but speak with caution and
prudence."

This resembles the Miltonian maxim: "I
pensieri stretti ed il viso sciolto."

"The blessings of good government spread like
the overflow of a fertilising stream; more rapid
in its progress than the messenger who brings a
royal proclamation."

"It is well that the chariots of the emperor
follow the same tract as those of past times;
that books are written in the same characters,
and maxims continue unchanged."

Confucius recommends caps of silk as more
economical than linen caps; a curious evidence
of the relative value in these days of the
materials employed.

Mencius also calls attention to the greater
value of silk than woollen garments. There is
an ancient proverb, which says that no one
ought to be content whose industry has not at
the age of fifty enabled him to wear silk apparel.

"Men cry, 'The rites! the rites.' Are they
thinking of aught but the precious stones, and
the ceremonial robes? (i.e. the external display).
They shout, 'Music! music!' Do they mean
anything but the noise of bells and drums?"

"Never neglect the interests of the people.
The book of Odes says:

Gather your rushes in the day,
To weave in cords and mats at eve
Repair your roofs without delay,
The seed time is approaching—leave
Nothing undone—for these are hours
Demanding all your pains and powers."

"Everything must be made subservient to
the labour of the husbandman."

"To govern a country virtuously and ably is
to resemble the polar star, which remains
immovable, while the other stars revolve in their
circles, taking it for their guide."

Confucius being asked, "Is there any word
which teaches what ought alone to be practised
to the end of life?" replied " Chou?" (reciprocity
of forbearance), which the commentators say
conveys this meaning, "Do not to others what
you would not they should do unto you."
Upon this Chou, the great instructor has this
annotation:

"What you disapprove in those who are above
you, do not practise to those who are below you;
what you disapprove in your inferiors, practise
not to your superiors; what you disapprove in
those who precede you, practise not towards those
who follow you; what you disapprove in those
who follow you, practise not towards those who
precede you; what you disapprove in those on
your right, practise not to those on your left;
what you disapprove in those on your left,
practise not to those on your right; this is the
reason and rule of action."

Again: "What I would not that others should
do to me, I would not do unto them."

Again: "To be so much our own masters as
to judge others by fair comparison with
ourselves, and to do to them as we would they