A concerned peasant appeared to the Master one day and asked, "How am I to have filial piety (孝) towards my father when he is a boomer (傻翁)?"
The Master replied: "Just as the minister must be unafraid to speak up when the Duke's desires are disordered, so must you confront your father when he behaves as a petty man (小人). Filial piety (孝) means that you would will for him to be venerated and given obeisance even unto a hundred generations of your children's children. He will not receive that unless you push him towards manifold virtue (德)."
The peasant pondered this, but plied him further, "And what if he will not listen? What will become of my lineage?"
The Master concluded: "The substance of gold is not the substance of a mine: it can shine and be treasured even when the other is dark and closed off. A venerable pine tree (松樹) can rise from a seed whose progenitor was felled long ago."