The Prince Pi-kan sacrificed himself and thus completed his
loyalty. Liu-hsia Hui sacrificed himself and thus completed his
trustworthiness.[2]
Po-i and Shu-ch'i sacrificed themselves and thus
completed their integrity. These four[3]
sages were all of them the
empire's gentlemen of understanding.[4]
Nor is there any question
of their not valuing their persons. If i is not established and
his fame not apparent, a gentleman is ashamed; this is why they
sacrificed themselves and so brought to perfection their [ideal of]
conduct. Viewed in this light, it is not low condition or poverty
that a gentleman is ashamed of. [What a gentleman should be
ashamed of is][5]
that when the world holds up loyalty he does not
partake of it, and when it honors trustworthiness he does not
partake of it, and when it honors integrity he does not partake of
it. If these three [qualities] are preserved in a person, his fame
is transmitted to [later] generations;[6]
he ranks together with sun
and moon, [un]resting.
[7]
Heaven cannot kill him, nor can earth
bury him;
[8]
in the time of a Chieh or a Chou, he cannot be sullied.
So it is not that, hating life, he rejoices in death, or
[9]
hating riches
and honor, he loves poverty and low condition. Through the true
principle, when honor comes to him, he serves in office without
refusing. Confucious said, "If the search for riches is sure to be
successful, though I should become a groom with whip in hand
to get them, I will do so."
[10]
Truly, "though harassed to extremity,
they were not downcast"; and though toiling to degradation,
they did not act improperly. Only then was there perfection.
[11]
The Ode says,
[12]
My mind is not a stone;—
It cannot be rolled about.
My mind is not a mat;—
It cannot be rolled up.
This is illustrated above.
