Page 111 - Gan's Family History

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#3 - Duke Ai of Lu asked, “Among
all your students, who was the most
eager to learn?”
Confucius answered, “Yan Hui was.
He was always friendly towards
others and he never made the same
mistakes twice. Unfortunately, he
died young. No longer do I hear of
anyone who is as eager to learn as he
was.”
#4 - Confucius said, “Only Yan Hui
was able to devote himself to
benevolence constantly; the other
disciples only thought of it
occasionally.
#5 - Confucius exclaimed, “What a
man of virtues Yan Hui was! Living
in a mean alley on homely fare was
a hardship others would find
intolerable, but Hui was still no less
cheerful and would never change his
aspirations. Only Yan Hui was able
to cultivate such a virtue.”
#6 - Confucius said to Yan Yuan,
“Only you and I are able to get down
to work when needed and to stay in
the background when not required.”
#7 - Yan Yuan said with a deep sigh,
“The more I look up at the Master’s
doctrine, the higher it soars; the
more I delve into it, the deeper it
becomes. It was just in front but
suddenly, it is behind. In spite of
this, the Master is good at leading
me forward step by step. He has
broadened my mind with ancient
culture and regulated me with the
writes. I could not give up learning
even if I wanted to. Although I am
exhausted, it is still beyond me.
However much long I pursue it, I
cannot achieve it.”
#8 - Confucius said, “There can only
have been Yan Hui who could listen
attentively to anything I said.”
#9 - Confucius said of Yan Yuan,
“What a pity he is gone! I always saw
him making progress and never did I
see him stop making an effort.”
#10 - Confucius’s disciples each had
his own talent:-
Yan Yuan, Min Ziqian, Ran Boniu
and Zhong Gong were virtuous; Zai
Wo and Zi Gong were eloquence; Ran
You and Ji Lu were good at
government and Zi You an Zi Xia
were familiar with ancient culture
and literature.
#11 - Confucius said, “Yan Hui
always entirely accepts whatever I
say. He has never disagree with me,
and this is of no help at all.”
#12 - When Yan Yuan died, his
father, Yan Yu, requested Confucius
to sell his carriage in order to make
an outer coffin for Yan Yuan.
Confucius said, “Good or bad, he is
your son. When my son, Li died, he
only had a coffin and no outer coffin
at all. I did not sell my carriage to
buy him an outer coffin. For, in
accordance with the rites, it is
improper for me, a former senior
official, to go on foot.”
#13 - When Yan Yuan died,
Confucius heaved a deep sign,