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Marquis Wên of Wei asked Hu Chüan-tzŭ, "If a father is
worthy, is that enough for him to be relied on?"
1 [OMITTED] is ambiguous. "Is a [person whose] father is a sage [thereby]
qualified to be depended on?" or "Is a [person who as a] father is a sage [thereby]
qualified to be depended on, [specifically by the one to whom he bears that relationship]?"
Lit., "If a father is a sage, is that enough for reliance?" Hu Chüan-tzŭ
plays on both these meanings: the son cannot rely for good treatment on his sage-father,
nor does the sage-father necessarily have a son worthy of confidence.
He replied, "It is not enough."
"If a son is worthy, is that enough for him to be relied on?"
"It is not enough."
"If a elder brother is worthy, is that enough for him to be
relied on?"
"It is not enough."
"If a younger brother is worthy, is that enough for him to be
relied on?"
"It is not enough."
"If a minister is worthy, is that enough for him to be relied on?"
"It is not enough."
Marquis Wên suddenly changed countenance and said angrily,
"To each of these five that I have asked you about, one by one,
you say `It is not enough.' What do you mean?"
He replied, "No father was more worthy than Yao, but Tan
Chu was banished.[2]
No son was more worthy than Shun, but
Ku-sou was stupid.[3]
No elder brother was more worthy than
Shun, but Hsiang was overbearing.[4]
No younger brother was more
worthy than the Duke of Chou, but Kuan-shu was punished.[5]
No minister was more worthy than T`ang or Wu, but Chou and
Chieh were attacked. He who puts his hope in others will not
achieve his goal, and he who relies on others will not long endure.
The prince who desires to rule must begin with himself. Why
should he rely on others?"
The Ode says,[6]
He seeks the blessing for himself.
