Rectifying names

子路曰衛君待子而為政子將奚先子曰必也正名乎子路曰有是哉子之迂也奚其正子曰野哉由也君子於其所不知蓋闕如也名不正則言不順言不順則事不成事不成則禮樂不興禮樂不興則刑罰不中刑罰不中則民無所措手足故君子名之必可言也言之必可行也君子於其言無所茍而已矣

Zilu asked : « if the Lord of Wei invited you to govern, what would you do first?” Confucius answered : “I would correct the language, undoubtedly!” Zilu said : “What? You are rambling ! Why correct it?” Confucius say: “You are a peasant, Zilu ! When a gentlemen does not know something, he cannot speak of it. If the language is incorrect, speech cannot follow. If speech does not follow, affairs cannot succeed. If affairs do not succeed, music and rites cannot flourish. If music and rites do not flourish, laws and punishments miss their goal. If laws and punishments miss their goal, the people doesn’t know where to stand. Therefore, a gentleman makes sure that his language can turn into speech, and that his speech can turn into acts. When it comes to speech, a gentleman leaves nothing to chance.”