When Tzŭ-chien was administering Shan-fu, he played the lute without descending from the hall, and still Shan-fu was in order. Wu-ma Ch’i went out to his duties while the stars were still out and did not return until they had again come out at night. Day and night he gave himself no rest, taking care of everything in person, and Shan-fu likewise was in order.
Wu-ma Ch’i asked Tzŭ-chien about it, and Tzŭ-chien said, "I use men, while you use strength. He who uses men is at ease, while he who uses strength must labor."
People therefore called Tzŭ-chien a superior man. While he rested his four limbs, preserved his sight and hearing, kept his mind and spirit quiet, the various officers still were in order. All he did was to make use of their numbers. Wu-ma Ch’i however did not do this. He misused his own nature and made himself a slave of his feelings, putting his effort into instructions and orders. Although there was order, there was not perfection. The Ode says,
You have suits of robes,
But you will not wear them;
You have carriages and horses,
But you will not drive them.
子贱治单父，弹鸣琴，身不下堂，而单父治。巫马期以星出，以星入，日夜不处，以身亲之，而单父亦治。巫马期问于子贱，子贱曰：“我任人，子任力。任人者佚，任力者劳。”人谓子贱，则君子矣，佚四肢，全耳目，平心气，而百官理，任其数而已。巫马期则不然，乎然事惟，劳力教诏，虽治，犹未至也。《诗》曰：“子有衣裳，弗曳弗娄；子有车马，弗驰弗驱。”
Wu-ma Ch’i asked Tzŭ-chien about it, and Tzŭ-chien said, "I use men, while you use strength. He who uses men is at ease, while he who uses strength must labor."
People therefore called Tzŭ-chien a superior man. While he rested his four limbs, preserved his sight and hearing, kept his mind and spirit quiet, the various officers still were in order. All he did was to make use of their numbers. Wu-ma Ch’i however did not do this. He misused his own nature and made himself a slave of his feelings, putting his effort into instructions and orders. Although there was order, there was not perfection. The Ode says,
You have suits of robes,
But you will not wear them;
You have carriages and horses,
But you will not drive them.
子贱治单父，弹鸣琴，身不下堂，而单父治。巫马期以星出，以星入，日夜不处，以身亲之，而单父亦治。巫马期问于子贱，子贱曰：“我任人，子任力。任人者佚，任力者劳。”人谓子贱，则君子矣，佚四肢，全耳目，平心气，而百官理，任其数而已。巫马期则不然，乎然事惟，劳力教诏，虽治，犹未至也。《诗》曰：“子有衣裳，弗曳弗娄；子有车马，弗驰弗驱。”
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