Confucius 'disciple felt sorry for them, but the Master replied, "In your eye that sheep is pitiable; for me, the ceremony is precious."
老夫子的回答是：「賜啊，你憐惜的是那隻羊，在我看來，該珍惜的，乃是其中禮數啊！」孔夫子顯然一語中的。雞鴨牛羊，本為人類畜養食用；選其美者，敬天祭祖，的確不必見怪。