Gentle Humor

This is one of the most humanly charming moments in the Analects. Confucius teases his disciple Ziyou, who governs the small town of Wu with the same grand ritual music one might use for a great state. But the humor is gentle and affectionate—Confucius smiles (莞爾而笑) rather than scolds, and Ziyou cleverly replies that the Master himself taught him to apply ritual everywhere. Confucius then corrects himself, telling the others Ziyou is right.