Duke Ai of Lu

哀公问曰，何为则民服。孔子对曰，擧直错诸枉，则民服，擧枉错诸直，则民不服。

The Duke Ai asked, saying, "What should be done in order to secure the submission of the people?" Confucius replied, "Advance the upright and set aside the crooked, then the people will submit. Advance the crooked and set aside the upright, then the people will not submit."

哀公问社于宰我。宰我对曰，夏后氏以松，殷人以柏，周人以栗，曰，使民战栗。子闻之曰，成事不说，遂事不谏，既往不咎。

1. The Duke Ai asked Tsai Wo about the altars of the spirits of the land. Tsai Wo replied, "The Hsia sovereign planted the pine tree about them; the men of the Yin planted the cypress; and the men of the Chau planted the chestnut tree, meaning thereby to cause the people to be in awe." 2. When the Master heard it, he said, "Things that are done, it is needless to speak about; things that have had their course, it is needless to remonstrate about; things that are past, it is needless to blame."

哀公问弟子孰为好学。孔子对曰，有颜回者好学，不迁怒，不贰过，不幸短命死矣，今也则亡，未闻好学者也。

1. The Duke Ai asked which of the disciples loved to learn. 2.Confucius replied to him, "There was Yen Hui; he loved to learn. He did not transfer his anger; he did not repeat a fault. Unfortunately, his appointed time was short and he died; and now there is not such another. I have not yet heard of any one who loves to learn as he did."

哀公问于有若曰年饥，用不足，如之何。有若对曰，盍彻乎。曰，二，吾犹不足，如之何其彻也。对曰，百姓足，君孰与不足，百姓不足，君孰与足。

1. The Duke Ai inquired of Yu Zo, saying, "The year is one of scarcity, and the returns for expenditure are not sufficient;—what is to be done?" 2. Yu Zo replied to him, "Why not simply tithe the people?" 3. "With two tenths, said the duke, "I find it not enough;—how could I do with that system of one tenth?" 4. Yu Zo answered, "If the people have plenty, their prince will not be left to want alone. If the people are in want, their prince cannot enjoy plenty alone."

陈成子弑简公。孔子沐浴而朝，告于哀公曰，陈恒弑其君，请讨之。公曰，告夫三子。孔子曰，以吾从大夫之后，不敢不告也。君曰，告夫三子者。之三子告，不可。孔子曰，以吾从大夫之后，不敢不告也。

1. Chan Ch'ang murdered the Duke Chien of Ch'i. 2. Confucius bathed, went to court, and informed the duke Ai, saying, "Chan Hang has slain his sovereign. I beg that you will undertake to punish him." 3. The duke said, "Inform the chiefs of the three families of it." 4. Confucius retired, and said, "Following in the rear of the great officers, I did not dare not to represent such a matter, and my prince says, 'Inform the chiefs of the three families of it.'"