The days and months go by; the years do not wait for us.
True, said Confucius; I must take office.
2. The Master said, Men are near to each other by nature; the lives they lead sunder them.
3. The Master said, Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
4. As the Master came to Wu-ch'eng[152] he heard sounds of lute and song.
Why use an ox-knife to kill a fowl? said the Master, with a pleased smile.
Tzu-yu answered, Master, once I heard you say, A gentleman that has learnt the Way loves men; small folk that have learnt the Way are easy to rule.
My two-three boys, said the Master, what Yen[153] says is true. I spake before in play.
5. Kung-shan Fu-jao[154] held Pi in rebellion. He called the Master, who wished to go.