"Yet ordinary men, on their first appointment, become self-important. On their second, they give themselves airs in their chariots. On their third, they call their own fathers by their personal names. As we should say, "by their Christian names." The term "fathers" includes uncles. Which of them can be compared with Hsü Yu of old? "There is nothing more fatal than intentional virtue, when the mind looks outwards. Spontaneity is the essence of real virtue. For by thus looking outwards, the power of introspection is destroyed. "There are five sources of injury to virtue. Eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and thought. Of these, that which aims at virtue is the chief. What is it to aim at virtue? Why a man who aims at virtue practises what he approves and condemns what he does not practise. Compounds for sins he feels inclined to By damning those he has no mind to. "There are eight causes of failure, three certain elements of success. There are six sources of strength and weakness. "Beauty, a long beard, size, height, robustness, grace, courage, daring,--these eight, in which men surpass their fellows, are therefore passports to failure. "Modesty, compliance, humility,--these three are sure roads to success. "Wisdom manifests itself in the external. Whereby the internal suffers. Courage makes itself many enemies. Charity and duty towards one's neighbour incur many reproaches. Three sources of weakness. "To him who can penetrate the mystery of life, all things are revealed. He who can estimate wisdom at its true value, _Sc._ at nothing. is wise. He who comprehends the Greater Destiny, becomes himself part of it. Of the great scheme of the universe, seen and unseen. He who comprehends the Lesser Destiny, resigns himself to the inevitable." Referring to life as ordinarily regarded by mortals. Three sources of strength. * * * * * A man who had been to see the prince of Sung and had been presented with ten chariots, was putting on airs in the presence of Chuang Tzŭ. "At Ho-Shang," said the latter, "there was a poor man who supported his family by plaiting rushes. One day his son dived into the river and got a pearl worth a thousand ounces of silver. The father bade him fetch a stone and smash it to pieces, explaining that he could only have got such a pearl very deep down from under the nose of the dragon, which must have been asleep. And he said he was afraid that when the dragon waked, the boy would have a poor chance. If found with it in his possession. "Now the State of Sung is deeper than a deep river, and the prince of Sung is fiercer than a dragon. To get these chariots, you must have caught him asleep. And when he wakes, you will be ground to powder." * * * * *