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?”
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!”
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.
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.”
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.”
3.22 The Master said, “Guan Zhong was in reality a man of very narrow capacities.”
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.”
3.20 Confucius said, “The Ospreys! Pleasure not carried to the point of debauch; grief not carried to the point of self-injury.”
3.19 Duke Ding asked for a precept concerning a ruler’s use of his ministers and a minister’s service to his ruler.