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THE TEXTS OF TAOISM.
ing at them from the services they render, allowing to everything the service which it does, there is not one which is not serviceable; and, extending the consideration to what it does not do, there is not one which is not unserviceable. We know (for instance) that East and West are opposed to each other, and yet that the one cannot be without (suggesting the idea of) the other ;-(thus) their share of mutual service is determined. Looking at them with respect to their tendencies, if we approve of what they approve, then there is no one who may not be approved of; and, if we condemn what they condemn, there is no one who may not be condemned. There are the cases of Yâo and Kieh, each of whom approved of his own course, and condemned the other; such is the view arising from the consideration of tendency and aim.
BK. XVII.
'Formerly Yâo and Shun resigned (their thrones), and yet each continued to be Ti; Kih-khwâi1 resigned (his marquisate) which led to his ruin. Thang and Wû contended (for the sovereignty), and each became king; the duke of Pâi2 contended (for Khû), which led to his extinction. Looking at the subject from these examples of striving by force and of resigning, and from the conduct of Yâo (on the one hand) and of Kieh (on the other), we see that there is a time for noble acting, and a time for
1 See Mencius II, ii, ch. 8, and I, ii, chaps. 10, 11, with the notes. is probably a mistake for .
2 See the last narrative but one in the 30 Khwan, under the sixteenth year of duke Âi of Lû,-the year in which Confucius died. 'The duke of Pâi' was merely the chief of a district of Khû; but rebelling against the Ruler of the State, he was defeated, and strangled himself.
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