Tsze-lu asked,
“If the Duke of Wei made you an advisor,
what would you address as the very first priority?”

Confucius replied,
“The most important thing
is to use the correct words.”
“What?” Tsze-lu replied.
“That’s your first priority? The right words?”

Confucius said,
“You really are simple, Yu.
The Sage keeps his mouth shut
when he doesn’t know what he’s talking about!

“If we don’t use the correct words,
we live public lies.
If we live public lies,
the political system is a sham.

“When the political system is a sham,
civil order and refinement deteriorate.
When civil order and refinement deteriorate,
injustice multiplies.
As injustice multiplies,
eventually the electorate is paralyzed
by public lawlessness.

“So the Sage takes for granted that he use the appropriate words,
and follow through on his promises with the appropriate deeds.

“The Sage must simply never speak lies.”

(Trans. Jimmer Endres)