Some one asked the meaning of the great sacrifice.
或问禘之说。
The Master said, "I do not know. He who knew its meaning would find it as easy to govern the kingdom as to look on this"-pointing to his palm.
子曰：“不知也。知其说者之于天下也，其如示诸斯乎！”指其掌。
He sacrificed to the dead, as if they were present. He sacrificed to the spirits, as if the spirits were present.
祭如在，祭神如神在。
The Master said, "I consider my not being present at the sacrifice, as if I did not sacrifice."
子曰：“吾不与祭，如不祭。”
Wang-sun Chia asked, saying, "What is the meaning of the saying, 'It is better to pay court to the furnace then to the southwest corner?'"
王孙贾问曰：“‘与其媚于奥，宁媚于灶’，何谓也？”
The Master said, "Not so. He who offends against Heaven has none to whom he can pray."
子曰：“不然，获罪于天，无所祷也。”

The Master said, "Chau had the advantage of viewing the two past dynasties. How complete and elegant are its regulations! I follow Chau."
子曰：“周监于二代，郁郁乎文哉！吾从周。”
The Master, when he entered the grand temple, asked about everything.
子入太庙，每事问。
Some one said, "Who say that the son of the man of Tsau knows the rules of propriety!
或曰：“孰谓鄹人之子知礼乎？
He has entered the grand temple and asks about everything."
入太庙，每事问。”
The Master heard the remark, and said, "This is a rule of propriety."
子闻之，曰：“是礼也。”
The Master said, "In archery it is not going through the leather which is the principal thing; because people's strength is not equal. This was the old way."
子曰：“射不主皮，为力不同科，古之道也。”