说苑/齊景公問晏子曰：「寡人自以坐地，二三子皆坐地，吾子獨搴草而坐之，何也？

齊景公問晏子曰：「寡人自以坐地，二三子皆坐地，吾子獨搴草而坐之，何也？

Eric Henry

“I have already sat on the ground,” Lord Jing of Qi once observed to Yanzi, “and my followers are all sitting on the ground as well.

」晏子對曰：「嬰聞之，唯喪與獄坐於地。

Eric Henry

Only you are pulling up grass on which to sit.

今不敢以喪獄之事侍於君矣。」

Eric Henry

Why?” “I have heard,” replied Yanzi, “that only mourners and convicts sit directly on the ground.

Eric Henry

I do not dare, therefore, to serve Your Lordship after the manner of a mourner or a convict.” Kongzi Summarizes His Way for Gao Ting of Qi