18.6  Chang Ju and Jie Ni were cultivating their fields together. Master Kong was passing that way and told Zilu to ask them where the river could be forded.

Chang Ju said: Who is the one holding the reins in the carriage?

Zilu said: It is Master Kong.

Is he the Master Kong of Lu?

Yes.

Then he already knows where the river can be forded!

Zilu asked Jie Ni.

Jie Ni said: Who are you, sir?

Zilu replied: I am Zilu.

Are you a follower of Master Kong of Lu?

Yes.

Jie Ni said: The whole world is swept as though by a torrential flood. Who can change it? As for you, instead of following one who flees from this man or that man, is it not better to follow those who flee the world altogether?

And with that he went on covering the seed without stopping. Zilu went to Master Kong and told him about their conversation.

Kongzi said ruefully: One cannot herd with birds and beasts. If I do not associate with mankind, with whom shall I associate? If the Way prevailed in the world, there would be no need for me to change it.¹

長沮、桀溺耦而耕，孔子過之，使子路問津焉。長沮曰：「夫執輿者為誰？」子路曰：「為孔丘。」曰：「是魯孔丘與？」曰：「是也。」曰：「是知津矣。」問於桀溺，桀溺曰：「子為誰？」曰：「為仲由。」曰：「是魯孔丘之徒與？」對曰：「然。」曰：「滔滔者天下皆是也，而誰以易之？且而與其從辟人之士也，豈若從辟世之士哉？」耰而不輟。子路行以告。夫子憮然曰：「鳥獸不可與同群，吾非斯人之徒與而誰與？天下有道，丘不與易也。」