」子路曰：「願聞其為人也何若？
」孔子曰：「其幼也，敏而好學，其壯也，有勇而不屈，其老也，有道而能以下人。
“When he was still a child,” said Kongzi, “he was quick and fond of study; when he was a young man, he was courageous and unbowed; and, when he was old, he knew the Way and was able to talk on equal terms with his inferiors.” Zilu said, “That he was quick and studious when young is good, and that he was courageous and unbowed when a young man is also good; but, if he knew the Way, why should he have talked on equal terms with anyone?” “This is something you are not aware of,” replied Kongzi.
」子路曰：「其幼也，敏而好學，則可，其壯也，有勇而不屈，則可。
夫有道又誰下哉？
“I have heard that, when a large force attacks a small one, it invariably destroys it and, when those in high position deal on equal terms with those in low position, they are invariably the gainers.
」孔子曰：「由不知也。
In former times, when Dan the Duke of Zhou was in charge of the government of the entire realm, he talked on equal terms with seventy men-of-service, yet he was surely one who knew the Way.
吾聞之，以眾攻寡，而無不消也，以貴下賤，無不得也。
昔在周公旦，制天下之政，而下士七十人，豈無道哉？
He did this in order to obtain worthy officers.
欲得士之故也。
夫有道而能下於天下之士，君子乎哉！」
One may say that one who knows the Way and is able to deal on equal terms with all the men of the realm is indeed a man of quality!