廣弘明集 8.20

English (machine translation) 8.20

Language: English

8.20

"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."

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Linked texts (1)

廣弘明集 — Classical Chinese