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4.1 The Master said, “It is benevolence that gives to a neighbourhood its beauty. One who is free to choose, yet does not prefer to dwell among the benevolence — how can he be accorded the name of wise?”
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3.26 The Master said, “High office filled by men of narrow views, ritual performed without reverence, the forms of mourning observed without grief — these are things I cannot bear to see!”
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3.25 The Master spoke of the Succession Dance as being perfect beauty and at the same time perfect goodness; but of the War Dance as being perfect beauty, but not perfect goodness.
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3.24 The guardian of the frontier-mound at Yi asked to be presented to the Master, saying, “No gentleman arriving at this frontier has ever yet failed to accord me an interview.”
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3.23 When talking to the Grand Master of Lu about music, Confucius said, “Their music in so far as one can find out about it began with a strict unison. Soon the musicians were given more liberty; but the tone remained harmonious, brilliant, consistent, right on till the close.”
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3.22 The Master said, “Guan Zhong was in reality a man of very narrow capacities.”
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3.21 Duke Ai asked Zai Yu about the Holy Ground. Zai Yu replied, “The Xia sovereigns marked theirs with a pine, the men of Yin used a cypress, the men of Zhou used a chestnut-tree, saying, this will cause the common people to be in fear and trembling.”
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3.20 Confucius said, “The Ospreys! Pleasure not carried to the point of debauch; grief not carried to the point of self-injury.”
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3.19 Duke Ding asked for a precept concerning a ruler’s use of his ministers and a minister’s service to his ruler.