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Ran You returned late from court. The Master asked, “Why so late?” He replied, “There was government business.” The Master corrected him, “That was merely administrative affairs. If there were truly matters of state policy, even if I were not employed, I would surely have heard about them.”
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Zilu, Zeng Xi (named Dian), Ran You, and Gongxi Hua were sitting with Confucius. The Master said, “I am a few years older than you – don’t let that hold you back. You often say, ‘No one understands me!’ If someone did understand and employ you, what would you do?”
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Zilu asked, “When I hear a truth, should I act on it immediately?” The Master replied, “You still have your father and elder brothers alive – how can you act on it as soon as you hear it?”Ran You asked the same question: “When I hear a truth, should I act on it immediately?”…
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When Min Ziqian stood by Confucius’s side, he appeared gentle and respectful; Zilu looked resolute and forceful; Ran You and Zigong were relaxed, cheerful, and articulate. Confucius was delighted. But then he sighed, “As for You (Zilu), I fear he will not meet a peaceful end.”
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Mencius said: “Ran Qiu served as steward to the powerful Ji family in Lu.Not only did he fail to help them improve their virtue, but he actually doubled their grain taxes.”
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When Duke Ding of Teng died, the crown prince (later Duke Wen of Teng) said to his minister Ran You: “Years ago, Mencius taught me in Song, and his words have stayed with me ever since. Now I am so unfortunate as to have lost my father, I would like you to go and…
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7.15 Ran Qiu said, “Is our Master on the side of the Prince of Wei?” Zigong said, “Yes, I must ask him about that.”
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6.8 Ji Kang asked whether Zilu was the right sort of person to put into office.
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6.4 When Gongxi Hua was sent on a mission to Qi State, Master Ran asked that Hua’s mother might be granted an allowance of grain.