When you might be, or might have been, of use. The idea conveyed is that Confucianism was unsuited to its age. See _Lun-yü_, ch. xviii. If TAO prevails on earth, prophets will fulfil their mission. If TAO does not prevail, they will but preserve themselves. At the present day they will but just escape. "The honours of this world are light as feathers, yet none estimate them at their true value. The misfortunes of this life are weighty as the earth itself, yet none can keep out of their reach. No more, no more, seek to influence by virtue. Beware, beware, move cautiously on! O ferns, O ferns, wound not my steps! Through my tortuous journey wound not my feet! Hills suffer from the trees they produce. Fat burns by its own combustibility. Cinnamon trees furnish food: therefore they are cut down. The lacquer tree is felled for use. All men know the use of useful things; but they do not know the use of useless things." CHAPTER V. THE EVIDENCE OF VIRTUE COMPLETE. _Argument_:--Correspondence between inward virtue and outward influence--The virtuous man disregards externals--The possession of virtue causes oblivion of outward form--Neglect of the human--Cultivation of the divine. In the State of Lu there was a man, named Wang T'ai, who had had his toes cut off. His disciples were as numerous as those of Confucius. Ch'ang Chi One of the latter. asked Confucius, saying, "This Wang T'ai has been mutilated, yet he divides with you, Sir, the teaching of the Lu State. He neither preaches nor discusses; yet those who go to him empty, depart full. He must teach _the doctrine which does not find expression in words_; The doctrine of TAO. These words occur in chs. ii and xliii of the _Tao-Tê-Ching_. See _The Remains of Lao Tzŭ_, p. 7. and although his shape is imperfect, his mind is perhaps complete. What manner of man is this?" "He is a prophet," replied Confucius, "whose instruction I have been late in seeking. I will go and learn from him. And if I,--why not those who are not equal to me? And I will take with me, not the State of Lu only, but the whole world." "The fellow has been mutilated," said Ch'ang Chi, "and yet people call him _Master_. He must be very different from the ordinary run. But how does he use his mind in this sense?" "Life and Death are all powerful," answered Confucius, "but they cannot affect _it_. The mind, or soul, which is immortal. See ch. iii. Heaven and earth may collapse, but _that_ will remain. If _this_ is found to be without flaw, it will not share the fate of all things. It can cause other things to change, while preserving its own constitution intact." "How so?" asked Ch'ang Chi.