Book XVII 4

1 The Master, having come to Wu-ch’ang, heard there the sound of stringed instruments and singing.

2 Well pleased and smiling, he said, ‘Why use an ox knife to kill a fowl?’

3 Tsze-yu replied, ‘Formerly, Master, I heard you say,— “When the man of high station is well instructed, he loves men; when the man of low station is well instructed, he is easily ruled.”’

4 The Master said, ‘My disciples, Yen’s words are right. What I said was only in sport.’