Mǎng Wû asked about Tsze-lû, whether he was perfectly virtuous. The Master said, “I do not know.”
He asked again, when the Master replied, “In a kingdom of a thousand chariots, Yû might be employed to manage the military levies, but I do not know whether he be perfectly virtuous.”
“And what do you say of Ch’iû?” The Master replied, “In a city of a thousand families, or a clan of a hundred chariots, Ch’iû might be employed as governor, but I do not know whether he is perfectly virtuous.”
“What do you say of Ch’ih?” The Master replied, “With his sash girt and standing in a court, Ch’ih might be employed to converse with the visitors and guests, but I do not know whether he is perfectly virtuous.”