Tzŭ-lu said, "Here is a man who gets up early and goes to
bed late, whose hands and feet are callused and whose face and
eyes are burnt black from planting the five cereals in the service
of his parents, and yet he has not the name of a filial son. Why
is this?"
Confucius said, "I suspect[2]
that probably he is not respectful
in bearing, or his expression is not conciliatory, or his words are
not polite. The ancients had a saying, `Is it clothing? Is it food?
I have never relied on you for them.' "[3]
"This son works hard to serve his parents, and he lacks these
three defects. How is it he [still] has not the name of filial?"[4]
"It may be that his friends are possibly not good men. Sit
down and I will tell you. If a man, although he has the strength
of the stoutest warrior in the state,[5]
is unable to lift his own
body, it is not that his strength is lacking, but that such a feat
is impossible.[6]
For this reason the superior man inside his house
is sincerely filial, and outside he makes friends with worthy men.
Then how can be not have the name of a filial son?"
The Ode says,[7]
Your parents are very near.