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Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Miscellaneous Chapters -> Kings who have wished to resign the Throne -> 13.2

子路子貢子路When they came in, Zi-lu said,
。」 'Your present condition may be called one of extreme distress.'
孔子 Confucius replied,
'What words are these!
君子When the Superior man has free course with his principles, that is what we call his success;
when such course is denied, that is what we call his failure.
Now I hold in my embrace the principles of benevolence and righteousness,
and with them meet the evils of a disordered age
- where is the proof of my being in extreme distress?
Therefore looking inwards and examining myself, I have no difficulties about my principles;
though I encounter such difficulties (as the present), I do not lose my virtue.
It is when winter's cold is come,
and the hoar-frost and snow are falling,
that we know the vegetative power of the pine and cypress.
This strait between Zhan and Cai
!」 is fortunate for me.'
孔子He then took back his lute so that it emitted a twanging sound, and began to play and sing.
子路(At the same time) Zi-lu, hurriedly, seized a shield, and began to dance,
子貢 while Zi-gong said,
'I did not know (before) the height of heaven
。」 nor the depth of the earth.'


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