Volume 3/The Hsiao/Chapter 13

Chapter XIII. Amplification of 'the Perfect Virtue' in Chapter.mw-parser-output.nowrap,.mw-parser-output.nowrap a:before,.mw-parser-output.nowrap.selflink:before{white-space:nowrap} I.

The Master said, 'The teaching of filial piety by the superior man[1] does not require that he should go to family after family, and daily see the members of each. His teaching of filial piety is a tribute of reverence to all the fathers under heaven; his teaching of fraternal submission is a tribute of reverence to all the elder brothers under heaven; his teaching of the duty of a subject is a tribute of reverence to all the rulers under heaven.

"The happy and courteous sovereign Is the parent of the people."

'If it were not a perfect virtue, how could it be recognised as in accordance with their nature by the people so extensively as this?'