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31
Hence it is said, in the common adage,"A man does not know the
wickedness of his son; he does not know the richness of his growing
corn."
32
This is what is meant by saying that if the person be not
cultivated, a man cannot regulate his family.
33
What is meant by "In order rightly to govern the state, it is
necessary first to regulate the family," is this:-It is not possible
for one to teach others, while he cannot teach his own family.
Therefore, the ruler, without going beyond his family, completes the
lessons for the state. There is filial piety:-therewith the. sovereign
should be served. There is fraternal submission:-therewith elders
and superiors should be served. There is kindness:-therewith the
multitude should be treated.
34
In the Announcement to K'ang, it is said, "Act as if you were
watching over an infant." If a mother is really anxious about it,
though she may not hit exactly the wants of her infant, she will not
be far from doing so. There never has been a girl who learned to bring
up a child, that she might afterwards marry.
35
From the loving example of one family a whole state becomes
loving, and from its courtesies the whole state becomes courteous
while, from the ambition and perverseness of the One man, the whole
state may be led to rebellious disorder;-such is the nature of the
influence. This verifies the saying, "Affairs may be ruined by a
single sentence; a kingdom may be settled by its One man."
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