The hostess seated Confucius and I at a table by the window. Thus, we were
             able to both observe what was transpiring within the restaurant and
             without, which pleased my dinner guest immensely. As a visitor to the
             United States for the first time, Confucius immediately said to me, "When
             you go abroad, to behave to every one as if you were receiving a great
             guest," (Analects, Section 3). I already knew the dinner conversation was
             not going to be light; we weren't just going to talk about the weather or
             about the latest movies we had seen.
             "I agree," I told Confucius. Many people, when they travel, try to
             bring their home values along with them. Instead, I feel they should be
             humble and appreciate the culture in which they find themselves. It really
             makes traveling more enjoyable and it's less offensive to the host culture.
             We Americans need to learn more respect for different cultures."
             When I put in my drink order, Confucius turned to the waiter and said,
             "I need nothing but water for now." Then he turned to me and said, directly
             quoting himself from section two of the Analects: "With coarse rice to eat,
             with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow;-I have still joy in
             the midst of these things. You see, it can be good to practice self-
             restraint at times. I have lived a very simple life," he continued.
             "Subduing the self leads to great wisdom and virtue. The superior man, the
             man of perfect virtue, learns how to live with little."
             I felt slightly guilty for ordering my glass of wine. "I hope I am not
             offending you, sir, by ordering and drinking a glass of wine. Do you think
             I am not being a virtuous man because of this decision'"
             "Don't worry," Confucius told me with a smile. "The superior man has
             neither anxiety nor fear," (Analects Section 3). "I think that it is
             alright to drink a glass of wine now and then, so long as it is not done
             thoughtlessly ...