As is known, there are things

And there are names after them.

All things and their names, it seems,

We have always had, but now and then

We do not understand their interrelation,

When the men of old spoke of the ways

Of governing the world, it was only

After four other steps that they gave a place

To things and their names; and only

After eight steps that they gave a place

To the subject of encouragement and punishment.

If they had all at once spoken of things and

Their names, they'd have shown an ignorance

Of what was the root of governing the world.

If they had all at once spoken of encouragement

And punishment, they'd have shown an ignorance

Of the first eight steps of the matter under discussion.

To speak all at once of things and their names,

And of encouragement and punishment

Only shows that the speaker knows well

The instruments of governing the world,

But doesn't know the method of its realization.

He is fit to be used as a tool in the world,

But not fit to use others as his instruments --

He is what is called "a man of one small notion

Who takes the place of a great leader to win the world."