In the time of Marquis Wên of Wei, Tzŭ-chih was in office and
got into trouble. After leaving he traveled north, where he said
to [Chao] Chien-chu,[2]
"From now on I will not again plant virtue
in anyone."
Chien-chu said, "What do you mean by that?"
[Tzŭ-]chih said, "Of the officers in the hall I planted the half;
of the Great Officers in the court I planted the half; of the officials
on the frontier I likewise planted the half. Now the officers in
the hall [got me hated by my prince; the Great Officers in the
court] threatened me with the law,[3]
and the officials on the frontier
attacked me with troops; this is why I will not again[4]
plant virtue
in men."
Chien-chu said, "Ha, what you say is wrong. If you plant
peach and pear trees in the spring, in summer you will have shade
beneath them and in autumn you will be able to eat their fruit.
If you plant caltrop in the spring, in summer you will not be able
to gather its leaves, and in autumn you get thorns from it. If
you look at it this way, it depends on what you plant. Now those
you planted were not the right men. Truly, the superior man first
makes a selection before he plants the seed."
The Ode says,[5]
Do not push forward a waggon;
The dust will only blind you.
