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There is a tradition that Confucius went to see K`ang-tzŭ
with Tzŭ-chang and Tzŭ-hsia following. Confucius went in and
sat down, while the two disciples got into a discussion that was
[still] not settled by the end of the day. Tzŭ-hsia's speech and
expression[1]
(ch`i) were choked to a degree and his countenance
was greatly altered. Tzŭ-chang said, "You have surely heard
our Master in a discussion? He speaks slowly and gently, and
deports himself gravely and respectfully. He speaks after first
being silent. When he makes a point, he pushes [the other] forward
and makes way for him. Majestic and vast, his is a Way to turn
to. The mean man, in discussions, is jealous of his own ideas and
insists he is in the right. He declares the other to be wrong, and,
his eyes glaring with anger, he seizes his wrist and spurts out [a
stream of] rapid words. His mouth froths, his eyes are inflamed.
Once he has the good luck to come out ahead in the argument,
he bursts out with a hee! hee! of laughter. In gravity and deportment
he is vulgar; his speech and expression2 are low. That is
why the superior man despises him."
