Zilu asked Confucius for advice on how to manage political affairs, and Confucius told him: Those who are in government should be in front of the people when doing things, so that the people will be industrious; Zilu didn't understand and asked Confucius to say more; Confucius went on to say: Those who are in government cannot slack off. Ran Yong became a retainer of the Ji clan and asked Confucius for advice on how to manage political affairs; Confucius told him: first assign specific affairs to his officials, let them perform their own duties, pardon their minor mistakes as much as possible, and select talented people to serve; After hearing this, Ran Yong then asked: Then how can we know who are the virtuous people, and then select them? Confucius replied: Select the talents you know, as for what you don't know, will others bury them?

Zilu asked Confucius for advice: The monarch of the country wants to ask you to govern the country, what are you going to start with? Confucius told him: You must first correct your name; Zilu asked mockingly: Did you do this? You're talking too out of place, right? After hearing this, Confucius said: Zilu, you are really a rough fellow! When a gentleman treats things he doesn't know, he always has a skeptical attitude first, look at your reckless appearance! If the name is not right, you can't speak properly and reasonably; If you don't speak properly and reasonably, things won't get done; If things can't be done, ritual music can't flourish; If the rites and pleasures do not flourish, the punishment cannot be properly executed; If the punishment is not properly executed, the people will not know what to do. Therefore, a gentleman must first set a name, and this title must be able to be explained clearly, and it must be able to work after saying it; A gentleman never treats his words and deeds so-so, you know?

Fan Chi asked Confucius for advice on how to grow crops, and Confucius replied: I don't understand this kind of thing as well as the old peasants. Fan Chi asked Confucius again for advice on how to grow vegetables, and Confucius replied: You might as well ask the vegetable farmers! After Fan Chi withdrew, Confucius said: Fan Chi is really a villain! If the people in the upper position attach importance to etiquette, the common people will naturally fear you; If those in higher positions value righteousness, the common people will naturally obey you; If the people in the higher positions value faith, the common people will naturally treat you sincerely; If this can really be done, people from all over the world will carry their children on their backs, where is the need to grow their own crops?

A person who memorizes the 300 articles of the "Book of Songs" is very familiar, if he is asked to deal with government affairs, he will not be able to do things; Let him be a diplomatic envoy, but he cannot complete the negotiations independently; What's the use of memorizing it more and more familiarly? If you are right, even if you don't issue an order, the people will take the initiative to do it; If you are not right, even if you issue an order, the people will not obey it. The political affairs of the two countries of Lu and Wei are like the political affairs of brothers. Confucius said of Jing, the son of the patriotic state: He is good at managing affairs such as the economy and household finances; When he first had a little money, he would say that it was almost enough; A little more, he would say that it was almost complete; When the money is more, he will say that it is almost perfect.

Once Confucius went to defend the country, Ran You drove for him; When he arrived at Weiguo, Confucius couldn't help but sigh: What a large population here! After hearing this, Ran You asked: The population is enough, what more do the rulers have to do? Confucius replied: Let them be rich first; Ran You then asked: What else do you need to do after you get rich? Confucius replied: Educate them. Confucius said: If someone uses me to govern the country, I can make an example in one year, and it will definitely be effective in three years. After a hundred years of good people governing the country, brutality can be eliminated and punishment and killing can be abolished. If there really is a king, it will take 30 years for benevolent government to prevail in the world.

If a person corrects his behavior, he will have no difficulty in managing political affairs; If you can't correct your own behavior, you can't make others right. When Ran You came back from retreat, Confucius asked him: Why did you come back so late today? Ran You replied: There are some political matters that need to be dealt with; After hearing this, Confucius said: It's just a general matter, right? If there is a political matter, even if the king does not need me, I will know about it.

Lu Dinggong asked Confucius: A word can make a country prosperous, is there such a sentence? Confucius replied: It is impossible to have such words, but there are words like this; Some people say, "It's hard to be a king, it's not easy to be a minister." "If you know the difficulties of being a king, isn't it similar to a sentence that makes the country prosperous? Lu Dinggong then asked: One sentence can destroy the country, is there such a sentence? Confucius replied: Such words are also impossible, but there are also words similar to this; Someone once said, "I have nothing to be happy about as a monarch, but I am glad that no one dares to disobey what I say." "It's good if it's right and no one disobeys; If it is not right, and no one disobeys, isn't it similar to a sentence that can destroy the country?

Ye Gong, the prime minister of Chu, asked Confucius for advice on how to manage political affairs, and Confucius replied: If you make those who are near happy, those who are far away will naturally come and join you. Zi Xia became the chief steward of Ju's father, and asked Confucius for advice on how to handle political affairs, and Confucius told him; Don't ask for fast, don't be greedy for small profits; Seeking speed will not achieve the goal, and it is impossible to achieve great things if you are greedy for small profits. Ye Gong told Confucius: There is an upright man in my hometown, his father stole other people's sheep, and he denounced his father; After hearing this, Confucius replied: There is also an upright person in my hometown, but it is not the same as the upright person you talked about; The father hides it for the sake of the son, and the son hides it for the sake of the father; Integrity is there.

Fan Chi asked Confucius for advice on how to be benevolent, and Confucius told him: Usually behave in the family and behave properly, do things seriously, treat people with loyalty and sincerity, even when you go to the land of Yidi, do not abandon the above principles; If you do this, you will probably be benevolent.

Zigong asked Confucius: May I ask the Master, what can I do to be called a scholar? Confucius replied: When you do things yourself, you have a sense of shame; When he goes to foreign parties, he can complete the mission assigned by the monarch, and he can be called a gentleman in doing so. Zigong asked again: What about the first-class taxi? Confucius said: The people in the clan praised him for his filial piety to his parents, and the township party praised him for respecting his brother. Zigong then asked: What about the first-class taxi again? Confucius replied: When it comes to it, it must be done, and it must be done to the end; If you are stubborn regardless of right and wrong, you are a villain, but it can also be said to be a first-class taxi again. Zigong asked: Master, how do you feel about the current ruler? Confucius replied: Alas! Those who are small in size can be called sergeants!