Nangong Zhigang
The Master said: "How difficult it is for a gentleman to be benevolent! The Book of Songs says: "A gentleman who is kind and respectful is the parents of the people. 'Teach him with kindness and strength; comfort him with kindness. Be happy but not wild, be kind and respectful with courtesy, be respectful with dignity, be filial and kind and respectful. Make the people respect their fathers and be close to their mothers. Only in this way can one be a parent to the people. Who else but the most virtuous can do this? Now, the father loves his son, but loves the virtuous and the incompetent; the mother loves her son, but loves the virtuous and pities the incompetent. The mother is loved but not respected; the father is respected but not loved. Water is loved but not respected; fire is respected but not loved. Earth is loved but not respected; Heaven is respected but not loved. Fate is loved but not respected; Ghosts are respected but not loved. "The Master said: "The Xia way respected fate, served ghosts, revered gods but kept them at a distance, approached people but were loyal to them, first paid salaries and then authorized power, first rewarded and then punished, loved but not respected; the people were stupid and foolish, arrogant and unsophisticated, simple and uncultured. The Yin people respected the gods and led the people to serve the gods, first ghosts and then rituals, first punished and then rewarded, respected but not loved; the people were unruly but not calm, victorious but shameless. The Zhou people respected etiquette and valued charity. They worshipped ghosts and gods but kept them at a distance, and were close to people but loyal to them. Their rewards and punishments were based on rank, and they were close but not respectful. The people were corrupt: they were greedy and cunning, cultured but not ashamed, and treacherous but blind. "The Master said: "The Xia way did not violate words, did not seek preparation, did not expect much from the people, and the people did not get tired of their relatives; the Yin people did not violate etiquette, but sought preparation from the people; the Zhou people strengthened the people, did not violate gods, but used rewards, ranks and punishments." The Master said: "The way of Yu and Xia had few complaints from the people; the way of Yin and Zhou was not as bad as it was." The Master said: "The quality of Yu and Xia, and the culture of Yin and Zhou, are the best. The culture of Yu and Xia was not as good as its quality; the quality of Yin and Zhou was not as good as its culture." The Master said: "Although there are authors in later generations, they cannot reach the level of Emperor Yu. The ruler of the world is selfless in life and does not treat his children with kindness in death. The people are like parents, with a love of fear and sorrow, and a teaching of loyalty and benefit. He is close to them and respects them, and is safe and respectful. He is powerful and loves them. He is rich and polite, and is kind and generous. His gentleman respects benevolence and fears righteousness, is ashamed to waste and neglect reality, is loyal but not offending, is righteous and obedient, is cultured and calm, and is lenient and discerning. "Fu Xing" says: "Virtue and power are powerful, and virtue and brightness are bright. "Who else but Emperor Yu can do this?" Confucius said: "Serving the ruler first supports his words, bows and offers himself, so as to make him trustworthy. Therefore, the ruler has responsibilities for his ministers, and the ministers have the responsibility to die for their words. Therefore, he does not falsely accept rewards, and he receives fewer punishments." Confucius said: "Serving the ruler, if big words come in, he hopes for big benefits, and if small words come in, he hopes for small benefits. Therefore, a gentleman does not accept big rewards for small words, nor does he accept small rewards for big words. "Yi" says: "Not eating at home is auspicious. " Confucius said: "Serving the ruler does not make it clear, does not value words, and does not do it if it is not the right person. Xiaoya said: "Be calm and upright in your position; the gods will listen to you, and you will be ashamed of yourself." Confucius said: "If you advise your lord from a distance, you are a flatterer; if you do not advise your lord from a close distance, you are a sycophant." Confucius said: "The ministers near you should guard the harmony, the ministers should rectify the hundreds of officials, and the ministers should consider the four directions." Confucius said: "When you serve your lord, you should want to advise him but not to express your opinions. The Book of Songs says: "If the heart loves, it will not mention its flaws; if the heart hides it, how can it be forgotten?" Confucius said: "If it is difficult to advance in your lord and easy to retreat, your position will be in order; if it is easy to advance in your lord and difficult to retreat, then there will be chaos. Therefore, a gentleman bows three times before advancing and says goodbye once before retreating, so as to avoid chaos." Confucius said: "If you refuse to serve your lord three times and do not leave, then you will seek profit and fame; even if people say they don't want it, I will not believe them." Confucius said: "When you serve your lord, you should be cautious at the beginning and respectful at the end." Confucius said: "You can be noble or humble, rich or poor, alive or dead, but you must not make it cause chaos. "The Master said, "In serving the sovereign, one should not avoid difficulties in the army or refuse humble positions in the court. If one is in a position but does not perform his duties, chaos will occur. Therefore, if the sovereign enables his ministers to achieve their goals, then he should carefully consider and follow them; if not, then he should consider carefully and follow them. To retire after the end of a task is a sign of the minister's loyalty. The Book of Changes says, 'Not serving the king or the nobles is to be noble in one's work.'" The Master said, "Only the emperor receives his mandate from heaven, and the scholars receive their mandate from the sovereign. Therefore, if the sovereign's orders are in compliance with the sovereign's orders, the ministers will obey the orders; if the sovereign's orders are in opposition to the sovereign's orders, the ministers will disobey the orders. The Book of Songs says, 'The magpie is ginger and the quail is bell-bellied; I regard people who are unscrupulous as my sovereign.'"
