A disciple asked what constituted the fundamental principle of art. "That is a very great question," replied Confucius, "but in the art used in social usages it is better to be simple than to be expensive; in rituals for the dead, it is better that there should be heartfelt grief than minute attention to observances."

中文：林放问礼之本。子曰：“大哉问！礼，与其奢也，宁俭；丧，与其易也，宁戚。”

注释：孔子的学生林放问孔子，什么才是艺术的根本原则。

       “这是一个非常重大的问题” 孔子回答说，“用于各种社会习俗的艺术，简谱要好于奢华；在为逝者举办的仪式中，发自内心的悲痛要好于对礼仪的密切关注。”