廣弘明集 8.20

8.20

縱橫家者流。蓋出於行人之官。孔子曰。誦詩三百使乎四方不能專對。雖多亦奚以為。又曰。使乎使乎。言其當權事制宜受命而不受詞。此其所長也。

"The school of Strategists (Zongheng) probably arose from the office of Emissaries (Xingren). Confucius said: 'Though one may recite the three hundred Odes, if on an embassy to the four quarters one cannot reply independently, much as one knows, of what use is it?' He also said: 'An envoy indeed! An envoy indeed!' This means that one must adapt to circumstances and make appropriate decisions, receiving the mandate but not the fixed words. This is their strength."