The Pheasant, the Sage, and the Disciple: A Final Lesson on Seizing the Moment

The pheasant rises, circles, and alights. Confucius exclaims: “It knows the season!” Zi Lu approaches; it sniffs thrice and flies.

Seeing the countenance, it instantly rises. It flies round, and by and by settles. The Master said, ‘There is the hen-pheasant on the hill bridge. At its season! At its season!’ Zi Lu made a motion to it. Thrice it smelled him and then rose.

色斯举矣,翔而后集。曰:“山梁雌雉,时哉!时哉!”子路共之,三嗅而作。

Source: The Analects, Xiang Dang X, Chapter 18

Author: The Compilers & Confucius

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