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Tsze-chang asked what constituted intelligence,
子张问明，
The Master said, "He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed;
子曰：“浸润之谮，肤受之愬，不行焉，可谓明也已矣；
Yea, he with whom neither soaking slander, nor startling statements, are successful, may be called farseeing."
浸润之谮、肤受之愬不行焉，可谓远也已矣。”
Tsze-kung asked about government. The Master said, "The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler."
子贡问政，子曰：“足食，足兵，民信之矣。”
Tsze-kung said, "If it cannot be helped, and one of these must be dispensed with, which of the three should be foregone first?"
子贡曰：“必不得已而去，于斯三者何先？”
"The military equipment," said the Master. Tsze-kung again asked, "If it cannot be helped, and one of the remaining two must be dispensed with, which of them should be foregone?"
曰：“去兵。”子贡曰：“必不得已而去，于斯二者何先？”
The Master answered, "Part with the food. From of old, death has been the lot of an men; but if the people have no faith in their rulers, there is no standing for the state."
曰：“去食。自古皆有死，民无信不立。”
Chi Tsze-ch'ang said, "In a superior man it is only the substantial qualities which are wanted; - why should we seek for ornamental accomplishments?"
棘子成曰：“君子质而已矣，何以文为？”
