Confucius said: “When a ruler wishes to teach his people to love their parents, he does not go to their family every day to teach them. He teaches them by his showing reverence to all old people. In the same manner he teaches his people to show respect to their elders by doing so first; and to be loyal to their ruler by his doing duty to his superiors first. “The _Shih Ching_ says, ‘The behaviour of the ruler is so good that he is loved by the people as their parent.’ A ruler could not have been so loved by his people had he not possessed the highest virtue.” CHAPTER XIV AMPLIFICATION OF “RAISING THE REPUTATION” Confucius said: “A true gentleman is always filial to his parents, and in order to fulfil his duty to them to the fullest extent, he also serves his August Master with patriotism. He always shows reverence to his elder brothers, and in order to fulfil his duty to them to the fullest extent, he does the same towards every one who is older than he. “As he can maintain order in his family affairs, so he can do the same in the government. He bases the principle of the government of a State upon that of a ruling family, and the consequent success will make his name to be remembered throughout generations to come.” CHAPTER XV THE QUESTION OF REMONSTRANCE IN CONNECTION WITH FILIAL DUTY Tsêng Tzŭ said: “I have heard all that you said about parental love, filial love, reverence to elders, how to treat parents every day, and how to please them by making oneself known for good conduct; and now I will venture to ask you whether it is filial that a son should obey every command of his father, whether right or wrong?” “What do you say?—what do you say?” replied Confucius. “Once upon a time there was a certain Emperor who would have lost his empire through his wickedness, but that he had seven good ministers who often checked his illegal actions by strong protests; there was also a feudal baron who would have lost his feudal estate through wantonness, but for the fact that he had five good men who often made strong remonstrances to him; and there was also a statesman who would have brought frightful calamity upon his family, but for the fact that he had three good servants who often strongly advised him not to do what he ought not. “If a man has a good friend to resist him in doing bad actions, he will have his reputation preserved; so if a father has a son to resist his wrong commands, he will be saved from committing serious faults. “When the command is wrong, a son should resist his father, and a minister should resist his August Master. “The maxim is, ‘Resist when wrongly commanded.’ Hence how can he be called filial who obeys his father when he is commanded to do wrong?” CHAPTER XVI THE INFLUENCE AND FRUIT OF FILIAL PIETY