The Master said, "Though a man may be able to recite the three hundred odes, yet if, when intrusted with a governmental charge, he knows not how to act, or if, when sent to any quarter on a mission, he cannot give his replies unassisted, notwithstanding the extent of his learning, of what practical use is it?"

5. LITERARY ACQUIREMENTS USELESS WITHOUT PRACTICAL ABILITY. 诗三百,—see II. 2. 诵, 'to croon over', as Chinese students do; here,= 'to have learned'. 专=独, 'alone', i.e., unassisted by the individuals of his suite. 多, 'many', refer. to the 300 odes. 亦, 'also', here and in other places,=our 'yet', 'after all'. 奚以为,—以, it is said,=用, 'use', and 为 is a mere expletive,—是语助词, but each term may have its meaning, as in the translation.