The duke said, 'I am stupid. Confucius said, 'If there were not the united action of heaven and earth, the world of things would not grow. By means of the grand rite of marriage, the generations of men are continued through myriads of ages. I cannot construe or interpret the text so. The text here seems to be corrupt.
Ceremonies are the first thing to be attended to in the practice of government.
Confucius continued, 'Anciently, under the government of the intelligent kings of the three dynasties, it was required of a man to show respect to his wife and son. The superior man's respect is universal. Wherein it appears the greatest is in his respect for himself. If he is not able to respect his own person, he is wounding his parents. If a ruler do these things, the spirit of his conduct will reach to all under the sky.