DESTINY, FATE 39 



ordered. If they are to fall to the ground, it is so ordered.' 

 "Consequently, the advance of the doctrine no less than the 

 peace of the people depend on fate and time, and not on 

 human action. Revolutions, the opposition of the citizens, 

 and the dangers of the State are commonly caused by calami- 

 ties which come down from Heaven above. The virtue of 

 a wise ruler is unfit to cope with, and disperse them." 



"There has never been anybody more benevolent and 

 kind hearted than Yao and T'ang. But Yao met with the 

 Great Flood, and T'ang fell in with a great drought. Inun- 

 dations and droughts are the worst of calamities. Since the two 

 Sages were visited with them, were they brought about by 

 their administration? No, the fixed periods of Heaven and 

 Earth made it so. Destiny determined." 



"From the inundation and the drought of Yao and T'ang 

 we draw the conclusion that the calamities of other kings are 

 not caused by their virtue. That being the case, their 

 happiness and felicity cannot be the result of their virtue 

 either. 



"As prosperity and progress are not brought about by 

 virtue, decline and decay cannot be due to virtue either. 

 Prosperity and progress, decay and decline are all dependent 

 on Heaven and time," i.e. on Fate. 



"Affluence is the outcome of a generous fate and not to 

 be obtained through wisdom and benevolence. Everybody 

 knows that affluence, peace, and contentment are con- 

 sequences of a happy destiny, but people ignore the fact that 

 the tranquillity of a State and the success of its institutions 

 are but lucky circumstances." 



"Consequently good government is not the work of 

 worthies and sages and decay and disorder not the result of 

 viciousness. When a State is doomed to perish, worthies 

 and sages cannot arrest its ruin, and when an age is to* be 

 well governed, no wicked people can throw it into' disorder. 

 Order and disorder depend on time, and not on government; 

 the tranquillity and the troubles of a State are determined 

 by its destiny, and not by its culture. Neither a wise nor an 

 unwise ruler, neither an enlightened nor an unenlightened 

 government can help or mar. 



"What are the causes of disorder? Are they not the 

 predominence of such things as robbery, fighting, and blood- 

 shed, the disregard of the moral obligations by the people, 

 and their rebellion against their ruler? All these difficulties 

 arise from a want of grain and food. When hunger and cold 

 combine, most people violate the laws; when they enjoy 

 both warmth and food, there are few who behave im- 

 properly." 



