Shu-sun Wu-shu having spoken revilingly of Chung-ni, Tsze-kung said, "It is of no use doing so.

叔孙武叔毁仲尼，子贡曰：“无以为也。

Chung-ni cannot be reviled. The talents and virtue of other men are hillocks and mounds which may be stepped over.

仲尼不可毁也。他人之贤者，丘陵也，犹可逾也。

Chung-ni is the sun or moon, which it is not possible to step over.

仲尼，日月也，无得而逾焉。

Although a man may wish to cut himself off from the sage, what harm can he do to the sun or moon?

人虽欲自绝，其何伤于日月乎？

He only shows that he does not know his own capacity."

多见其不知量也。”

Ch'an Tsze-ch' in, addressing Tsze-kung, said, "You are too modest.

陈子禽谓子贡曰：“子为恭也。

How can Chung-ni be said to be superior to you?"

仲尼岂贤于子乎？”

Tsze-kung said to him, "For one word a man is often deemed to be wise,

子贡曰：“君子一言以为知，

and for one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We ought to be careful indeed in what we say."

一言以为不知，言不可不慎也。”

Our Master cannot be attained to, just in the same way as the heavens cannot be gone up by the steps of a stair.

夫子之不可及也，犹天之不可阶而升也。

Were our Master in the position of the ruler of a state or the chief of a family,

夫子之得

we should find verified the description which has been given of a sage's rule:

邦家者，

he would plant the people, and forthwith they would be established;

所谓立之斯立；

he would lead them on, and forthwith they would follow him;

道之斯行；

he would make them happy, and forthwith multitudes would resort to his dominions;

绥之斯来；

he would stimulate them, and forthwith they would be harmonious. While he lived, he would be glorious.

动之斯和。其生也荣。

When he died, he would be bitterly lamented. How is it possible for him to be attained to?"

其死也哀，如之何其可及也？”