孔子懷天覆之心，挾仁聖之德，憫時俗之污泥，傷紀綱之廢壞，服重歷遠，周流應聘，乃俟幸施道，以子百姓，而當世諸侯，莫能任用。
Thus, we can see that, if one’s speech makes headway with a ruler and one’s policies enhance the well-being of the people, only then is it proper to take office.
If one’s words make no headway with a ruler and one’s policies do not favor the people, then it is proper to retire.
是以德積而不肆，大道屈而不伸，海內不蒙其化，群生不被其恩。
Kongzi harbored aims as vast as the earth-covering heaven. He was endowed with humane and sagely virtue.
故喟然嘆曰：「而有用我者，則吾其為東周乎？
Troubled by the corruption of customs and pained by the ruin and abandonment of the constants of human behavior, he took up heavy burdens and passed through distant regions, going all over in response to invitations.
Thus, he awaited an opportunity to put his way into practice, in the hope that the Hundred Clans might be nurtured thereby.
」故孔子行說，非欲身運德於一城，將欲舒之於天下，而建之於群生者耳。
But none of the rulers of the age were able to make use of him, and for this reason his virtue accumulated but was never unleashed; his great way suffered obstruction and could not stretch out, the realms within the seas did not enjoy its transforming power, and the crowds of living things were not touched by its blessings.
And so he heaved a great sigh, saying, “If there were one who could make use of me, could we not create a Zhou in the east?