| Xian Jin: |
Ji Zi Ran asked whether Zhong You and Ran Qiu could be called great ministers. The Master said, "I thought you would ask about some extraordinary individuals, and you only ask about You and Qiu! What is called a great minister, is one who serves his prince according to what is right, and when he finds he cannot do so, retires. Now, as to You and Qiu, they may be called ordinary ministers." Zi Ran said, "Then they will always follow their chief - will they?" The Master said, "In an act of parricide or regicide, they would not follow him." |
