Passing the Empty Throne: Reverence for the Symbol, Not Just the Man

Passing the prince’s vacant seat, Confucius’s expression changed, his steps faltered, and he spoke as if breathless.

When he was passing the vacant place of the prince, his countenance appeared to change, and his legs to bend under him, and his words came as if he hardly had breath to utter them.

过位,色勃如也,足躩如也,其言似不足者。

Source: The Analects, Xiang Dang X, Chapter 4

Author: The Compilers

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