38 DESTINY, FATE 



of ancient and modern times hold this view, for they notice 

 that the wisdom of Yao and Shun brought about universal 

 peace, whereas the lawlessness of Chieh and Chou resulted in 

 rebellion and in their destruction. But, they say, if we 

 thoroughly go into the question we find that fate has its 

 proper time, which comes spontaneously, and that virtue has 

 no influence upon it. These fatalists maintain their theory 

 by such arguments as these. 



"All officials, those with the income of more than a 

 hundred piculs as well as those living on less than a pint, 

 while in office, govern the people. They exercise their 

 authority, instruct and admonish, but whether these in- 

 structions have any effect, and whether the people are well 

 governed or in revolution, depends on fate." 



"Some persons may have great talents and lead a pure 

 life, but when called to office, they are soon cashiered; 

 whereas others with very little knowledge or of a reprobate 

 conduct govern the people and remain in office. In remote 

 antiquity promotion and degradation of able and incompetent 

 men were based on mere success. Rewards were bestowed 

 on the successful, and penalties inflicted on the unsuccessful. 

 Much consideration was shown for fate, and a great partiality 

 to fortune, but neither were talents investigated nor capa- 

 cities much appreciated." Fate ruled. 



"Therefore, when revolutions and other calamities un- 

 expectedly break out, these critics bring them home to* the 

 sovereign, charging him with misrule. The prince acquiesces, 

 and takes the guilt upon himself. Sorrow and pain shake 

 his bodj^, but the difficulties are not removed thereby. With- 

 out reason they harass the mind of the ruler, and overwhelm 

 an enlightened monarch with undeserved reproaches. These 

 ideas are being transmitted and universally accepted." 



"A wise ruler may govern a people who are to live in 

 peace, but he cannot reform an age destined to revolt. A 

 physician, clever in using his needles and medicines, is 

 successful with his methods, if he happens to find a patient 

 whose end has not yet arrived, and comes across a disease 

 which is not mortal. If the man's life is ended and his 

 sickness fatal, he can do nothing even though he be a second 

 Pien Ch'ie. A worn-out life and a fatal disease are incurable 

 as a people in rebellion cannot be pacified. The action of 

 drugs cures a disease as admonitions serve to pacify the 

 people. Both cases are subject to destiny and time, and 

 cannot be forced in any way." 



"The Kung-po Liao, having slandered Tse Lu to Chi 

 Sun, Tse Fu Ching Po informed Confucius of it . . . 

 Confucius said, 'If my principles are to advance, it is so 



