Book XI 23

1 Chi Tsze-zan asked whether Chung Yu and Zan Ch’iu could be called great ministers.

2 The Master said, ‘I thought you would ask about some extraordinary individuals, and you only ask about Yu and Ch’iu!

3 ‘What is called a great minister, is one who serves his prince according to what is right, and when he finds he cannot do so, retires.

4 ‘Now, as to Yu and Ch’iu, they may be called ordinary ministers.’

5 Tsze-zan said, ‘Then they will always follow their chief;— will they?’

6 The Master said, ‘In an act of parricide or regicide, they would not follow him.’