Confucius said to the Ji family, "Eight rows of dancers in the courtyard! If one can endure this, what can one not endure?"

        When the three families used the poem 'Yong' in their ceremonies, the Master said, "'The Duke is distinguished, the Son of Heaven is august'—what place have these words in the halls of the three families?"

        The Master said, "If a man is not benevolent, what use is ritual to him? If a man is not benevolent, what use is music to him?"

        Lin Fang asked about the essence of ritual. The Master said, "What a great question! As for ritual, it is better to be frugal than extravagant; as for funerals, it is better to be grieved than to be formal."

        The Master said, "It is better for the Central States to have no ruler than for the barbarians to have one."

        When the Ji family went on a journey to Mount Tai, the Master said to Ran You, "Can you not stop them?" Ran You replied, "I cannot." The Master said, "Alas! Do they think Mount Tai is no better than Lin Fang?"

        The Master said, "The gentlemen have nothing to contend over, except perhaps in archery! They bow and yield as they ascend, and bow and yield as they descend to drink. Such is the contention of gentlemen."

        Zi Xia asked, "'With a subtle smile she is charming, with beautiful eyes she is glancing, in white she is radiant'—what does this mean?" The Master said, "The painting comes after the white background." Zi Xia asked, "Does ritual come after?" The Master said, "Shang is the one who prompted me; only now can I begin to discuss the *Poetry* with him."

        The Master said, "I can speak of the rituals of the Xia, for the state of Qi is not needed for proof; I can speak of the rituals of the Yin, for the state of Song is not needed for proof. It is only because the records are insufficient; if they were sufficient, I could prove them."

        The Master said, "As for the Di sacrifice, once the libations are poured, I have no desire to observe the rest."

        Someone asked about the meaning of the Di sacrifice. The Master said, "I do not know. He who knows its meaning would show it to the world as easily as this!" and he pointed to his palm.

        When offering sacrifices, one should act as if the spirits were present. The Master said, "If I do not participate in the sacrifice, it is as if no sacrifice were offered."

        Wangsun Jia asked, "'Rather than flatter the inner chamber, it is better to flatter the kitchen'—what does this mean?" The Master said, "That is not so. If one offends Heaven, there is nowhere to pray."

        The Master said, "The Zhou dynasty looked back to the two preceding dynasties; how magnificent were its cultural achievements! I follow the Zhou."

        When the Master entered the Ancestral Temple, he asked about every detail. Someone said, "Who says the son of the man from Bo knows ritual? He enters the temple and asks about everything." When the Master heard this, he said, "This is exactly what ritual is."

        The Master said, "In archery, the arrows do not all hit the center because the strength of the archers differs; this was the way of old."

        Zi Gong wished to abolish the practice of offering a sheep at the beginning of the month. The Master said, "Zi! You love the sheep, but I love the ritual."

        The Master said, "To serve a ruler with complete ritual is often seen as flattery."

        Duke Ding asked, "How should a ruler employ his ministers, and how should ministers serve their ruler?" Confucius replied, "The ruler should employ his ministers with propriety, and the ministers should serve their ruler with loyalty."

        The Master said, "The poem 'Guan Ju' is joyful but not licentious, mournful but not heartbreaking."

        Duke Ai asked Zai Wo about the社 (altar of the soil). Zai Wo replied, "The Xia used pine, the Yin used cypress, and the Zhou used chestnut, to make the people tremble." When the Master heard this, he said, "When a thing is done, it is not discussed; when a thing is completed, it is not remonstrated; when it is past, there is no blame."

        The Master said, "Guan Zhong's capacity was small!" Someone asked, "Was Guan Zhong frugal?" The Master replied, "The Guan family had three estates; his official duties did not prevent this, so how could he be frugal?" "Then did Guan Zhong know ritual?" The Master replied, "The ruler of the state planted trees at the gate, and the Guan family also planted trees at the gate; the ruler had a ceremonial platform for guests, and the Guan family also had a ceremonial platform. If the Guan family knew ritual, who does not?"

        The Master spoke to the Master of Music of Lu, saying, "Music is knowable. It begins in harmony, and is followed by purity, clarity, and elongation, until it is complete."

        Yi, the sealer, asked to see the Master, saying, "Whenever a gentleman comes this way, I have always been granted an audience." Those accompanying the Master saw him. Upon leaving, Yi said, "Why should you worry about loss? The world has been without the Way for a long time; Heaven is about to make the Master its wooden bell (to awaken the people)."

        Regarding the musical composition *Shao*, the Master said, "It is perfectly beautiful and perfectly good." Regarding the composition *Wu*, he said, "It is perfectly beautiful, but not perfectly good."

        The Master said, "If those in high positions are not broad-minded, if those performing rituals are not respectful, and if those at funerals are not grieved, how can I observe these things?"