Tsze-kung replied, "The doctrines of Wan and Wu have not yet fallen to the ground, they are to be found among men.

子贡曰：“文武之道未坠于地，在人。

Men of talents and virtue remember the greater principles of them,

贤者识其大者，

and others, not possessing such talents and virtue, remember the smaller.

不贤者识其小者。

Thus, all possess the doctrines of Wan and Wu.

莫不有文武之道焉。

Where could our Master go that he should not have an opportunity of learning them?

夫子焉不学？

And yet what necessity was there for his having a regular master?"

而亦何常师之有？”

Shu-sun Wu-shu observed to the great officers in the court, saying, "Tsze-kung is superior to Chung-ni."

叔孙武叔语大夫于朝曰：“子贡贤于仲尼。”

Tsze-fu Ching-po reported the observation to Tsze-kung, who said,

子服景伯以告子贡，子贡曰：

"Let me use the comparison of a house and its encompassing wall. My wall only reaches to the shoulders.

“譬之宫墙，赐之墙也及肩。

One may peep over it, and see whatever is valuable in the apartments.

窥见室家之好。

The wall of my Master is several fathoms high. If one do not find the door and enter by it,

夫子之墙数仞，不得其门而入，

he cannot see the ancestral temple with its beauties, nor all the officers in their rich array.

不见宗庙之美、百官之富。

But I may assume that they are few who find the door.

得其门者或寡矣。

Was not the observation of the chief only what might have been expected?"

夫子之云不亦宜乎！”