| | Now there are Yi and Pengmeng, with the Fanruo bow here but without strings; then they certainly could not hit the target. Hitting the target is not solely due to the string, yet the string is an essential component of the bow for shooting. Establishing achievements and reputation also requires certain tools; without these tools, even if one's virtue surpasses that of Tang and Wu, the efforts will be in vain and no success will be achieved. Tang once was constrained at Xibao, King Wu once found himself in dire straits at Bicheng, Yi Yin once lived among the kitchen staff, and Tai Gong once remained hidden while fishing—this is not because their virtue had declined or their wisdom was foolish; it was simply that they lacked the necessary tools. Therefore, whenever achievements and reputation are to be established, even a virtuous person must have the appropriate tools before success can be attained.
|
| | Mi Zijian governed Danfu, and he was afraid that the ruler of Lu would listen to slanderers and thus prevent him from implementing his methods. He was about to resign and leave, so he requested two officials from the ruler of Lu and went with them together to Danfu. All the local officials came to court, and Mi Zijian ordered the two officials to write records. As the officials were about to write, Mi Zijian pulled their elbows from the side at times. When the officials wrote poorly, Mi Zijian would become angry. The officials were greatly troubled by this and requested to resign and return home. Mi Zijian said, "Your writing is very poor; you should make an effort to return." The two officials returned and reported to the ruler, saying, "Mi Zijian cannot be made to write." The ruler asked, "What is the reason?" The officials replied, "Mi Zijian had us write records while at times pulling our elbows from the side. When we wrote poorly, he became very angry. The other officials all laughed at Mi Zijian; this is why we resigned and left." The ruler of Lu sighed and said, "Mi Zijian used this to advise me on my lack of virtue. My interference has disrupted the officials, preventing Mi Zijian from implementing his methods—this must have happened many times before. Without these two officials, I would almost have committed a mistake." The ruler then dispatched his beloved officials and sent them to Danfu, informing Mi Zijian, "From now on, Danfu is no longer mine; it belongs to you. If there are matters beneficial for Danfu, you may decide and carry them out as you see fit." After five years, report the key results. Mi Zijian respectfully agreed and thus was able to implement his methods in Danfu. After three years, Wuma Qi, dressed in a rough hemp robe and wearing a worn-out fur coat, went to Danfu to observe the transformation. He saw people fishing at night, and when they caught fish, they released them. Wuma Qi asked, saying, "Fishing is for catching fish. Why do you catch them and then release them?" They replied, "Mi Zijian does not want people to take small fish. The ones we release are the small fish." Wuma Qi returned and informed Confucius, saying, "Mi Zijian's virtue has reached its highest level. He causes the people to act uprightly even in secret, as if there were severe punishments watching over them. Daring to ask, Master, how did Mi Zijian reach such a level?" Confucius said, "I once spoke with him saying, 'Sincerity here will manifest as discipline there.'" Mi Zijian must have applied this method in Danfu." The reason Mi Zijian was able to apply this method was because the ruler of Lu later understood and supported him. The reason the ruler of Lu later came to understand it was that Mi Zijian had first made adequate preparations. Having made prior preparations, how could success be far away? This was the virtue of the ruler of Lu. A three-month-old infant, even if a ceremonial carriage and official cap stand before it, does not know desire; even if an axe or halberd stands behind it, it does not know fear. The love of a kind mother is conveyed to it—this is sincerity. Therefore, sincerity becomes harmonious with human feelings only when there is genuine sincerity; and the refined spirit communicates with Heaven only when there is true refinement. When it communicates with Heaven, even the natures of water, wood, and stone can be moved; how much more so for those who possess blood and breath? Therefore, in all matters concerning persuasion and governance, nothing is better than sincerity. Hearing words of sorrow is not as convincing as seeing them weep; Hearing words of anger is not as convincing as seeing them fight. Persuasion and governance without sincerity cannot profoundly move people's hearts.
|
