Confucius looked up to heaven, and replied with a sigh, "I have."
"And did he not rebuff you," asked Liu Hsia Chi, "as I said he would?"
"He did," said Confucius. "I am a man who has cauterized himself without being ill. I hurried away to smooth the tiger's head and comb out his beard. And I very nearly got into the tiger's mouth."
Tzŭ Chang asked Man Kou Tê,
- Which means "Full of the Ill-gotten."
saying, "Why do you not practise virtue? Otherwise, it is impossible to inspire confidence. And without confidence, no place. And without place, no wealth. Thus, with a view to reputation or to wealth, duty towards one's neighbour is the true key.
- As leading to reputation, which was what Tzŭ Chang wanted.
If you were to discard all thoughts of reputation and wealth and attend to the cultivation of the heart, surely you would not pass one day without practising the higher virtues."
"Those who have no shame," replied Man Kou Tê,
- Meaning himself.
"grow rich. Those who inspire confidence make themselves conspicuous.
- Meaning Tzŭ Chang.
