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或谓孔子曰，子奚不为政。子曰，书云孝乎，惟孝友于兄弟，施于有政，是亦为政，奚其为为政。

1. Some one addressed Confucius, saying, "Sir, why are you not engaged in the government?" 2. The Master said, "What does the Shu-ching say of filial piety?—'You are filial, you discharge your brotherly duties. These qualities are displayed in government.' This then also constitutes the exercise of government. Why must there be that —making one be in the government?"

子所雅言，诗，书，执礼，皆雅言也。

The Master's frequent themes of discourse were—the Odes, the History, and the maintenance of the Rules of Propriety. On all these he frequently discoursed.

子路使子羔为费宰。子曰，贼夫人之子。子路曰，有民人焉，有社稷焉，何必读书，然后为学。子曰，是故恶夫佞者。

1. Tsze-lu got Tsze-kao appointed governor of Pi. 2. The Master said, "You are injuring a man's son." 3. Tsze-lu said, "There are (there) common people and officers; there are the altars of the spirits of the land and grain. Why must one read books before he can be considered to have learned?" 4. The Master said, "It is on this account that I hate your glib-tongued people."

子张曰，书云，高宗谅阴三年不言，何谓也。子曰，何必高宗，古之人皆然，君薨，百官总己，以听于冢宰，三年。

1. Tsze-chang said, "What is meant when the Shu says that Kao-tsung, while observing the usual imperial mourning, was for three years without speaking?" 2. The Master said, "Why must Kao-tsung be referred to as an example of this? The ancients all did so. When the sovereign died, the officers all attended to their several duties, taking instructions from the prime minister for three years."

子张问行。子曰，言忠信，行笃敬，虽蛮貊之邦行矣。言不忠信，行不笃敬，虽州里行乎哉。立，则见其参于前也，在舆，则见其倚于衡也。夫然后行。子张书诸绅。

1. Tsze-chang asked how a man should conduct himself, so as to be everywhere appreciated. 2. The Master said, "Let his words be sincere and truthful, and his actions honourable and careful;—such conduct may be practised among the rude tribes of the South or the North. If his words be