Analects of Confucius 18.3

translated from Classical Chinese by James Legge, 1893

The duke Ching of Ch’i, with reference to the manner in which he should treat Confucius, said, ‘I cannot treat him as I would the chief of the Chi family. I will treat him in a manner between that accorded to the chief of the Chi, and that given to the chief of the Mang family.’ He also said, ‘I am old; I cannot use his doctrines.’ Confucius took his departure.