Zilu asked: "If the ruler of Wei were to employ you in governing his state, what would you attend to first?" The Master said: "It would surely be the rectification of names!" Zilu said: "Can it be so? How wide of the mark you are, Master! What need is there for such rectification?" The Master said: "How uncouth you are, Zilu! A gentleman, when faced with what he does not understand, should maintain a respectful silence. If names are not correct, speech will not accord with truth; if speech does not accord with truth, affairs cannot be accomplished; if affairs cannot be accomplished, rites and music will not flourish; if rites and music do not flourish, punishments will not be fitting; if punishments are not fitting, the people will not know where to set their hands and feet. Therefore, whatever a gentleman names must be expressible in speech, and whatever he expresses in speech must be practicable. In all his utterances, a gentleman leaves nothing to mere chance."