Lun Yu – The Analects of Confucius

A ruler has not to occupy himself with what is properly the business of the people.
1. Fan Ch'ih requested to be taught husbandry. The Master said, "I am not so good for that as an old husbandman." He requested also to be taught gardening, and was answered, "I am not so good for that as an old gardener."
2. Fan Ch'ih having gone out, the Master said, "A small man, indeed, is Fan Hsü!
3. "If a superior man love propriety, the people will not dare not to be reverent. If he love righteousness, the people will not dare not to submit to his example. If he love good faith, the people will not dare not to be sincere. Now, when these things obtain, the people from all quarters will come to him, bearing their children on their backs;– what need has he of a knowledge of husbandry?"

Legge XIII.4.

Fan Ch'ih asked to be taught how to grow crops. The Master said, 'I am not as good as an old farmer.' He asked to be taught how to grow vegetables. 'I am not as good as an old gardener.' When Fan Ch'ih left, the Master said, 'How petty Fan Hsu is! When those above love the rites, none of the common people will dare be irreverent; when they love what is right, none of the common people will dare be insubordinate; when they love trust- worthiness, none of the common people will dare be insincere. In this way, the common people from the four quarters will come with their children strapped on their backs. What need is there to talk about growing crops?'

Lau [13:4]

Fan Tch'eu pria Confucius de lui enseigner l'agriculture. Le Maître répondit : « Un vieux laboureur te l'enseignerait mieux que moi. » Fan Tch'eu le pria de lui enseigner l'art de cultiver les jardins potagers. Confucius répondit : « Un vieux jardinier te l'enseignerait mieux que moi. » Comme Fan Tch'eu se retirait, le Maître lui dit : « Que Fan Siu a l'esprit petit ! Si le prince s'attache à l'urbanité et aux convenances, aucun de ses sujets n'osera les négliger. Si le prince s'attache à la justice, aucun de ses sujets n'osera lui refuser l'obéissance. Si le prince s'attache à la sincérité, aucun de ses sujets n'osera agir de mauvaise foi. Les choses étant ainsi, les habitants de toutes les contrées accourront à lui, avec leurs petits enfants sur leurs épaules. Quel besoin a-t-il d'apprendre l'agriculture ? »

Couvreur XIII.4.