Confucius says.......
The quotation from Confucius, supplied by INW2 participant Jonathan Hodgkin, was modified from a recent (1997) translation of The Analects of Confucius, by Simon Leys.
His version of the relevant passage runs as follows:
The Analects of Confucius (551 - 479 BC)
Chapter 13, Section 3:
Zilu asked: `If the ruler of Wei were to entrust you with the government of the country, what would be your first initiative?'
The Master said: `It would certainly be to rectify the names.'
Zilu said: `Really? Isn't this a little far-fetched? What is this rectification for?'
The Master said: `How boorish can you get! Whereupon a gentleman is incompetent, thereupon he should remain silent. If the names are not correct, language is without an object. When the language is without an object, no affair can be effected. When no affair can be effected, rites and music wither. When rites and music wither, punishments and penalties miss their target. When punishments and penalties miss their target, the people do not know where they stand. Therefore, whatever a gentleman conceives of, he must be able to say, and whatever he says, he must be able to do. In the matter of language, a gentleman leaves nothing to chance.'
