from The Analects of Confucius
Tsze-lu asked,
"If the Duke of Wei made you an advisor,
what would you address as the very first priority?"
Confucius replied,
"The most important thing
is to use the correct words."
"What?" Tsze-lu replied.
"That's your first priority? The right words?"
Confucius said,
"You really are simple, Yu.
The Sage keeps his mouth shut
when he doesn't know what he's talking about!
"If we don't use the correct words,
we live public lies.
If we live public lies,
the political system is a sham.
"When the political system is a sham,
civil order and refinement deteriorate.
When civil order and refinement deteriorate,
injustice multiplies.
As injustice multiplies,
eventually the electorate is paralyzed
by public lawlessness.
"So the Sage takes for granted that he use the appropriate words,
and follow through on his promises with the appropriate deeds.
"The Sage must simply never speak lies."
[from The sayings of Confucius, James R. Ware, trans. 1980.]
Tsze-lu said, "The ruler of Wei has been waiting for you, in order with you to administer the government. What will you consider the first thing to be done?"
The Master replied, "What is necessary is to rectify names." "So! indeed!" said Tsze-lu. "You are wide of the mark! Why must there be such rectification?"
The Master said, "How uncultivated you are, Yu! A superior man, in regard to what he does not know, shows a cautious reserve.
"If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success.
"When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music do not flourish. When proprieties and music do not flourish, punishments will not be properly awarded. When punishments are not properly awarded, the people do not know how to move hand or foot.
"Therefore a superior man considers it necessary that the names he uses may be spoken appropriately, and also that what he speaks may be carried out appropriately. What the superior man requires is just that in his words there may be nothing incorrect."
13:3 Tzu Lu said: "The ruler of Wei is anticipating your assistance in the administration of his state. What will be your top priority?"
Confucius said, "There must be a correction of terminology."
Tzu Lu said, "Are you serious? Why is this so important?"
Confucius said, "You are really simple, aren't you? A Superior Man is cautious about jumping to conclusions about that which he does not know."
"If terminology is not corrected, then what is said cannot be followed. If what is said cannot be followed, then work cannot be accomplished. If work cannot be accomplished, then ritual and music cannot be developed. If ritual and music cannot be developed, then criminal punishments will not be appropriate. If criminal punishments are not appropriate, the people cannot make a move. Therefore, the Superior Man needs to have his terminology applicable to real language, and his speech must accord with his actions. The speech of the Superior Man cannot be indefinite."