Book 17: 《陽貨》 Yang Huo
《陽貨》 Passage 17.7
佛肸召，子欲往。子路曰：「昔者由也聞諸夫子曰：『親於其身為不善者，君子不入也。』佛肸以中牟畔，子之往也，如之何！」子曰：「然。有是言也。不曰堅乎，磨而不磷；不曰白乎，涅而不緇。吾豈匏瓜也哉？焉能繫而不食？」
Legge Translation (1861)
Bi Xi sent a message, inviting the Master to visit him, and the Master was inclined to go.Zilu said: "Master, formerly I have heard you say, 'When a man in his own person is guilty of doing evil, a superior man will not associate with him.' Bi Xi is in rebellion, holding possession of Zhongmou; if you go to him, what shall be said?"
The Master said: "Yes, I did use those words. But is it not said, that, if a thing be really hard, it may be ground without being made thin? Is it not said, that, if a thing be really white, it may be steeped in a dark fluid without being made black?
Am I a bitter gourd! How can I be hung up out of the way of being eaten?"
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