"The Master," replied the disciple, "was gracious, simple, earnest, modest and courteous; therefore he could obtain what information he wanted. The Master’s way of obtaining information—well, it was different from other people’s ways."

Tzu-kung said, "The Master gets it through being cordial, well-behaved, respectful, frugal and deferential. The way the Master seeks it is, perhaps, different from the way other men seek it."

Zigong said, "Our Master gets things by being cordial, frank, courteous, temperate, deferential. That is our Master’s way of enquiring — a very different matter, certainly, from the way in which enquiries are generally made."

Zigong replied: "The Master gets all he needs by being cordial, proper, deferential, frugal, and unassuming. Perhaps this way of seeking information is somewhat different from how others go about it."

Chee-koong replied, the Master possesses meekness, wisdom, affability, equity and condescension; the Master’s mode of enquiring is different from that of men.