The madman of Ch’û, Chieh-yü, passed by Confucius, singing and saying, “ O fǎng! O fǎng! How is your virtue degenerated! As to the past, reproof is useless; but the future may still be provided against. Give up your vain pursuit. Give up your vain pursuit. Peril awaits those who now engage in affairs of government.”
Confucius alighted and wished to converse with him, but Chieh-yü hastened away, so that he could not talk with him.