tr . ▁Fischer ▁ 2 0 1 2 : 1 3 7 6 – 1 3 9 0 ) ▁ ▁The ▁following ▁context ▁clar ifies ▁the ▁semantics ▁of ▁" sp irit ous " ▁( tr . ▁Fischer ▁ 2 0 1 2 : 1 4 0 7 ), ▁" This ▁' sp irit ous ness ' ▁is ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁my ri ad ▁things , ▁the ▁leading ▁thread ▁of ▁the ▁my ri ad ▁affairs ." ▁ ▁Hum ility . ▁The ▁Sh izi ▁teach es ▁that ▁r ul ers ▁should ▁have ▁hum ility ▁when ▁seeking ▁good ▁minister s , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁have ▁em in ence ▁when ▁effectively ▁r uling . ▁For ▁instance , ▁this ▁dialog ue ▁between ▁Conf u cius ▁and ▁his ▁dis ci ple ▁Z ix ia , ▁ ▁" K ong ▁Z i ▁said : ▁' Z ix ia , ▁do ▁you ▁know ▁how ▁r ul ers ▁function ▁as ▁r ul ers ?' ▁Z ix ia ▁replied : ▁' ( If ) ▁fish ▁lose ▁the ▁water ▁( they ▁are ▁in ), ▁then ▁( they ) ▁will ▁die , ▁( but ) ▁if ▁water ▁los es ▁the ▁fish ▁( in ▁it , ▁it ) ▁is ▁still ▁water .' ▁Kong ▁Z i ▁said : ▁' You ▁know ▁it !' ." ▁An ▁effective ▁r uler ▁needs ▁both ▁to ▁practice ▁hum ility ▁and ▁to ▁purs ue ▁self - c ult iv ation ▁through ▁study . ▁( tr . ▁Fischer ▁ 2 0 1 2 : 2 1 4 9 – 2 1 5 1