Ah, why art thou far away!"

Commenting on these lines the Master said, "There can hardly have been
much 'thought going out,' What does distance signify?"


[Footnote 21: "Wan" was the honorary appellation of the great sage and
ruler, whose praise is in the "Shi-King" as one of the founders of the
Chow dynasty, and the term represented civic talent and virtues, as
distinct from Wu, the martial talent--the latter being the honorary
title of his son and successor. "Wan" also often stands for literature
and polite accomplishments. Here Confucius simply means, "If you kill
me, you kill a sage."]



BOOK X

Confucius in Private and Official Life


In his own village, Confucius presented a somewhat plain and simple
appearance, and looked unlike a man who possessed ability of speech.

But in the ancestral temple, and at Court, he spoke with the fluency and
accuracy of a debater, but ever guardedly.

At Court, conversing with the lower order of great officials, he spoke
somewhat firmly and directly; with those of the higher order his tone
was somewhat more affable.