YANG CHU said:
"Kuan Ching filled his post
as a minister of Ch’i in the following way. When his sovereign was wanton he
was wanton too; when his sovereign was prodigal he was also prodigal. He met
his wishes and obeyed him; following the right path, he made the kingdom
prosper. But after the king's death, he was only Mr. Kuan again. Nothing more.
"But when Tien was minister
of Ch’i he behaved as follows. When his sovereign was overbearing he was
condescending. When his sovereign collected taxes he distributed money. Thus
the people admired him, and in consequence he entered into the possession of
the kingdom of Ch’i. His descendants hold it to this day.
"If anybody has real
greatness he is poor; if his greatness is spurious, he is rich."
Yang Chu said:
"The really good man is not
famous; if he be famous, he is not really a good man, for all fame is nothing
but falsehood.
"Of old Yao and Shun
pretended to yield the empire to Hsu-yu and Shan-Chuan, but they did not lose
it, and enjoyed happiness for a hundred years.
"Po Yo and Shu-Ch’i really
abdicated on account of the Prince Ku-Chu, and lost their kingdom at last,
finally dying of starvation on the mountain of Shou-Yang.
"This is the difference
between the real and false."
