Confucius Chose His Hosts by Principle
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English translation
Original Chinese text
万章问曰:“或谓‘孔子于卫主痈疽,于齐主侍人瘠环’,有诸乎?”孟子曰:“否,不然也,好事者为之也。于卫,主颜仇由。弥子之妻与子路之妻,兄弟也。弥子谓子路曰:‘孔子主我,卫卿可得也。’子路以告,孔子曰:‘有命。’孔子进以礼,退以义,得之不得曰:‘有命。’而主痈疽与侍人瘠环,是无义无命也。”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “Some say that in Wei Confucius lodged with the eunuch Yongju, and in Qi with the palace attendant Jihuan. Is that true?” Mencius said, “No. It was made up by people fond of sensational stories. In Wei, Confucius lodged with Yan Qiuyou. The wife of Mi Zi and Zilu’s wife were sisters. Mi Zi told Zilu, ‘If Confucius stays at my house, he can obtain a ministerial post in Wei.’ Zilu told Confucius, who said, ‘That is a matter of destiny.’ Confucius advanced according to ritual and withdrew according to righteousness; whether he gained a post or not, he said, ‘It is destiny.’ To lodge with the eunuch Yongju or the attendant Jihuan would have been neither righteous nor a matter of destiny.”
Original Chinese text
孔子不悦于鲁卫,遭宋桓司马,将要而杀之,微服而过宋。是时孔子当厄,主司城贞子,为陈侯周臣。吾闻观近臣,以其所为主;观远臣,以其所主。若孔子主痈疽与侍人瘠环,何以为孔子?
English translation
Confucius was unwelcome in Lu and Wei. In Song, he encountered Huan Tui, the minister of war, who lay in wait to kill him, so Confucius passed through Song in disguise. At that time he was in danger and lodged with Sicheng Zhenzi, serving Lord Zhou of Chen. I have heard that to judge a courtier close at hand, one looks at whom he serves; to judge a visiting minister from afar, one looks at who receives him. If Confucius had lodged with the eunuch Yongju or the attendant Jihuan, how could he still be Confucius?