Analects of Confucius 11.9

translated from Classical Chinese by James Legge, 1893

When Yen Yuan died, the Master bewailed him exceedingly, and the disciples who were with him said, ‘Master, your grief is excessive?’ 2. ‘Is it excessive?’ said he. 3. ‘If I am not to mourn bitterly for this man, for whom should I mourn?’