I am not an office holder, nor a remonstrator here. Why then should I not have very free scope for my staying and leaving?"

But I am in charge of no office; on me devolves no duty of speaking out my opinion:—may not I therefore act freely and without any constraint, either in going forward or in retiring?’

I have no post to guard and no advice to give; can I not come or go freely and untrammelled?

But I’m neither an official nor a counselor, so when it comes to engagement and withdrawal, why shouldn’t I just do as I please?"

Mencius, conversinng with Che Wa said, your refusing the office of Ling Kew and begging the office of criminal judge, appeared right, because it gave you an opportunity of speaking; but now after having been in this office several months, could you not have spoken?