2. 知命者,—he who knows or has the true notion of,etc. 岩, "precipitous" and likely to fall.
4. The fetters are understood to be those of an evildoer. 桎 are fetters for the hands, and 梏 those for the feet.
CHAPTER 3. VIRTUE IS SURE TO BE GAINED BY SEEKING IT, BUT RICHES AND OTHER EXTERNAL THINGS NOT.
This general sentiment is correct, but truth is sacrificed to the point of the antithesis, when it is said in the second case that seeking is of no use to getting. The things "in ourselves" are benevolence,righteousness, propriety, and knowledge, and endowments proper of our nature. The things "without ourselves" are riches and dignities. The proper course to seek these is that ascribed to Confucius, advancingaccording to propriety, and retiring according to righteousness, but yet they are not at our command and control.