And scholars who loosely gird themselves are ready to decide whatever questions may arise. But scholars who have Tao do not necessarily wear robes; neither does the wearing of robes necessarily mean that a scholar has Tao. If your Highness does not think so, why not issue an order through the Middle Kingdom, making death the punishment for all who wear the robes without having the Tao?"
Thereupon Duke Ai circulated this mandate for five days, the result being that not a single man in Lu dared to don scholars' robes,—with the exception of one old man who, thus arrayed, took his stand at the Duke's gate.
My Ming editor (a priest) says this was Confucius himself!
The Duke summoned him to the presence, and asked him many questions on politics, trying to entangle him, but in vain. Then Chuang Tzŭ said, "If there is only one scholar in Lu, surely that is not many."
It is unnecessary, says Lin Hsi Chung, to descend to anachronisms in reference to the genuineness of this episode.
Rank and power had no charms for Po Li Ch'i.
7th century BC. This story is alluded to by Mencius.
So he took to feeding cattle. His cattle were always fat, which caused Duke Mu of Ch'in to ignore his low condition and entrust him with the administration.
Shun cared nothing for life or death. He was therefore able to influence men's hearts.