Once, Chun Yukun recommended seven able and virtuous1 scholars to King Xuan of the State of Qi. King Xuan was surprised and said: "I heard that talented people are hard to find. If one able and virtuous scholar can be found within a circumference2 of 1, 000 li, it cannot be regarded as few. If 100 years witnesses the advent3 of a saint, it cannot be regarded as few. Now you recommend seven able and virtuous scholars all at once, then there are too many able and virtuous scholars."
Chun Yukun said: "Birds of the same feather always flock together. Wild beasts of the same kind always walk together. For example, if we wish to find medicinal herbs like the root of Chinese thorowax and the root of balloonflower on the marsh4, we will never find even one in our whole life. But if we go to the north side of the Zeshu Mountain and the Liangfu Mo
