35
Marquis Wên of Wei asked Li K`o, "Have people hatreds?"
Li K`o said, "They have. The lowly hate the nobles; the poor
hate the rich; the stupid hate the wise."
Marquis Wên said, "Excellent! Can these three be exercised
so as to avoid hatred?"
Li K`o said, "They can. I have heard that if nobles humble
themselves before the lowly, the masses will not hate them. If
the rich can divide [their wealth] among the poor, needy gentlemen
will not hate them. If the wise teach the stupid, inexperienced
youths will not hate them."
Duke Wên said, "Well said! Even Yao and Shun would not
have found fault with such conduct..[1]
Though I am not intelligent,
I venture to keep to these words."
The Ode says,[2]
I had not leisure to kneel or to sit.
