Lun Yu – Les Entretiens de Confucius

Le Maître, dans la principauté de Wei, jouait d'un instrument de musique composé de pierres sonores1. Un homme venant à passer devant sa porte, avec une corbeille sur les épaules, dit : « Que de cœur dans cette musique ! » Peu après il ajouta : « Fi donc ! ce martèlement qui persiste ! Il suffit ! puisque personne ne vous entend. [Le Livre des Odes dit2] : “Si le gué est profond, traverse le tout habillé ; s'il ne l'est pas, retrousse ton vêtement3”. » Le Maître dit : « En effet, ce serait mettre fin à mes difficultés. »

Couvreur XIV.42.

The judgement of a retired worthy on Confucius's course, and remark of Confucius thereon.
1. The Master was playing, one day, on a musical stone in Wei, when a man, carrying a straw basket, passed door of the house where Confucius was, and said, "His heart is full who so beats the musical stone."
2. A little while after, he added, "How contemptible is the one-ideaed obstinacy those sounds display! When one is taken no notice of, he has simply at once to give over his wish for public employment. 'Deep water must be crossed with the clothes on; shallow water may be crossed with the clothes held up.'"
3. The Master said, "How determined is he in his purpose! But this is not difficult!"

Legge XIV.42.

While the Master was playing the stone chimes in Wei, a man who passed in front of the door, carrying a basket, said, 'The way he plays the stone chimes is fraught with frustrated purpose.' Presently he added, 'How squalid this stubborn sound is. If no one understands him, then he should give up, that is all.
When the water is deep, go across by wading;
When it is shallow, lift your hem and cross.'
The Master said, 'That would be resolute indeed. Against such resoluteness there can be no argument.'

Lau [14:39]