Legge Translation (1861)

The Duke Ai asked Zai Wo about the altars of the spirits of the land. Zai Wo replied: "The Xia sovereign planted the pine tree about them; the men of the Yin planted the cypress; and the men of the Zhou planted the chestnut tree, meaning thereby to cause the people to be in awe."

When the Master heard it, he said: "Things that are done, it is needless to speak about; things that have had their course, it is needless to remonstrate about; things that are past, it is needless to blame."