When the Duke of Sheh consulted him about government, he replied, "Where
the near are gratified, the far will follow."

When Tsz-hiá became governor of Kü-fu, and consulted him about
government, he answered, "Do not wish for speedy results. Do not look at
trivial advantages. If you wish for speedy results, they will not be
far-reaching; and if you regard trivial advantages you will not
successfully deal with important affairs."

The Duke of Sheh in a conversation with Confucius said, "There are
some straightforward persons in my neighborhood. If a father has stolen
a sheep, the son will give evidence against him."

"Straightforward people in my neighborhood are different from those,"
said Confucius. "The father will hold a thing secret on his son's
behalf, and the son does the same for his father. They are on their way
to becoming straightforward."

Fan Ch'i was asking him about duty to one's fellow-men. "Be courteous,"
he replied, "in your private sphere; be serious in any duty you take in
hand to do; be leal-hearted in your intercourse with others. Even though
you were to go amongst the wild tribes, it would not be right for you to
neglect these duties."

In answer to Tsz-kung, who asked, "how he would characterize one who
could fitly be called 'learned official,'" the Master said, "He may be
so-called who in his private life is affected with a sense of his own
unworthiness, and who, when sent on a mission to any quarter of the
empire, would not disgrace his prince's commands."