Gems of Chinese Literature/T‘an Kung-Bad Government

by T‘an Kung

When Confucius was crossing the T‘ai mountain, he overheard a woman weeping and wailing beside a grave. He thereupon sent one of his disciples to ask what was the matter; and the latter addressed the woman, saying, “Some great sorrow must have come upon you that you give way to grief like this?” “Indeed it is so,” replied she. “My father-in-law was killed here by a tiger; after that, my husband; and now my son has perished by the same death.” “But why, then,” enquired Confucius, “do you not go away?” “The government is not harsh,” answered the woman. “There!” cried the Master, turning to his disciples; “remember that. Bad government is worse than a tiger.”