Page:Gems of Chinese literature (1922).djvu/24

 “It is not a pleasure to me to issue these numerous commands. The ancients had a saying, ‘A man should not seek to see himself in water, but as reflected in other people.’ Ought we not then to look back to the House of Yin, which has now perished, in order to secure repose for our own times? “If persons congregate together to drink, let them all be seized and sent to me at the capital; I will put them to death. Those officers of the House of Yin who have always been accustomed to drink may be exempted from this penalty. Let them be taught; and then, if they obey, they may be allowed to enjoy distinction. Otherwise, I will show no pity.  LAO TZŬ. 7th and 6th Centuries b.c. [Lao Tzŭ was a great Teacher whose birth has been assigned to various ages, of which 604 has perhaps the best claim. Legend has gathered around his name, and it has even been stated that he was the son of a virgin. He is known to the Chinese as the author of a number of remarkable sayings which have been preserved in the writings of ancient philosophers and which were brought together and issued, with a large amount of absurd padding, in the form of a book―the so-called Tao Tê Ching―possibly as early as the Second century He is regarded as the founder of Taoism, the doctrine of the WAY.]  HE goodness of doing good is not real goodness. When merit has been achieved, do not take it to yourself; for if you do not take it to yourself, it shall never be taken from you. By many words wit is exhausted; it is better to preserve a mean. Keep behind, and you shall be put in front; keep out, and you shall be kept in. He who grasps more than he can hold, would be better without any; he who strikes with a sharp point, will not himself be safe for long. 