釋氏稽古略 3.309

3.309

In the guichou year, the second year [of Jingfu] (893), the Prefect of Yuzhou, Liu Pin, was made Prefect of Luzhou. Ever since Gongchuo, the Liu clan had for generations been revered by the scholar-officials for their filial piety, fraternal duty, and propriety. When Pin served as Grand Censor, the Sovereign wished to make him prime minister, but the eunuchs disliked him and thus he had long been demoted abroad. Pin once admonished his sons and younger brothers, saying: "In general, an exalted lineage is to be feared, not to be relied upon. In establishing oneself and carrying out one's conduct, if there is a single failure, one's culpability is heavier than that of others, and in death one will have no means to face one's ancestors in the underworld. This is why it is to be feared. When a lineage is exalted, pride easily arises; when a clan is flourishing, it is envied by others. Excellent conduct and true talent will not yet be believed by people, while for the slightest flaw (pin) or defect (lei), everyone will point it out. This is why it is not to be relied upon. Therefore, scions of wealthy families should be all the more diligent in their learning and all the more encouraging in their conduct; only then can they merely equal other people." (Pin means a flaw in jade; lei means a knot in silk.)