"What do you mean?" cried the Prince? "What is there to sympathise about?"
"About your Highness' soul and body," replied Hsü Wu Kuei.
"Pray explain," said the Prince.
"Nourishment is nourishment," said Hsü Wu Kuei.
To a peasant as to a prince.
"Being high up does not make one high, nor does being low make one low. Your Highness is the ruler of a large State, and you oppress the whole population thereof in order to satisfy your sensualities. But your soul is not a party to this. The soul loves harmony and hates disorder. For disorder is a disease. Therefore I came to sympathise. How is it that your Highness alone is suffering?"
"I have long desired to see you," answered the Prince. "I wish to love my people, and by cultivation of duty towards one's neighbour to put an end to war. Can this be done?"
"It cannot," replied Hsü Wu Kuei. "Love for the people is the root of all evil to the people. Cultivation of duty towards one's neighbour in order to put an end to war is the origin of all fighting. If your Highness starts from this basis, the result can only be disastrous.
Why try to "do" anything?
"Everything that is made good, turns out bad.