Conversations of the Taoist Master Fu Hsiang

Men Chow: That is true.

Tsia Tung: Very well. I should say that there are many reasons why men become evil. For instance, we may be born to bad parents, who do not bring us up correctly, but practice all kinds of vices and beat us. We may be visited by disease or lose all our possessions in war or flood. These things embitter and twist people, and force them to all kinds of desperate acts.

Fu Hsiang: Very good. A sensible answer. You would not mind if we examine it?

Tsia Tung: Of course not.

Fu Hsiang: Men Chow, if I have a piece of purest gold, how many times must I strike it in order to turn it to lead?

Men Chow: You cannot turn gold into lead by striking it, sifu. No matter how many times you strike it, it still remains gold.

Fu Hsiang: And if I heat it, or melt it and cut it into a thousand pieces?

Men Chow: It still remains gold throughout.