说苑/趙襄子謂仲尼曰：「先生委質以見人主，七十君矣，而無所不通識，世無明君乎? 意先生之道固不通乎？

趙襄子謂仲尼曰：「先生委質以見人主，七十君矣，而無所不通識，世無明君乎? 意先生之道固不通乎？

Eric Henry

“You have offered your wisdom to seventy different rulers,” said Zhao Xiangzi105 to Zhongni [Kongzi], “but your proposals were accepted by no one.

」仲尼不對。

Eric Henry

Could it be that there are no enlightened rulers in the realm, or is it because your way is inherently impossible to carry out?” Zhongni made no response.

異日襄子見子路，曰：「嘗問先生以道，先生不對。

Eric Henry

On another day, Xiangzi saw Zilu106 and said, “I questioned your master concerning his way, and he made no response.

知而不對，則隱也，隱則安得為仁？

Eric Henry

If he knows but doesn’t answer, then he is hiding something.

若信不知，安得為聖？

Eric Henry

How can one who hides things be considered an exemplary person?

」子路曰：「建天下之鳴鍾而撞之以莛，豈能發其聲乎哉？君問先生，無乃猶以莛撞乎?

Eric Henry

And, if he actually doesn’t know, how can he be considered a sage?” “If one should set up a ringing gong, the finest in the realm,” replied Zilu, “and use a grass frond to strike it with, how could one cause the gong to emit its sound?

Eric Henry

Wasn’t your questioning the master like using a grass frond to strike a gong?