All the same, I don't know
how you stand the work you do. You seem to me positively to like public
business. Why wont you let me take you down to the coast some week-end
and teach you marine golf?
CONFUCIUS. It does not interest me. I am not a barbarian.
BURGE-LUBIN. You mean that I am?
CONFUCIUS. That is evident.
BURGE-LUBIN. How?
CONFUCIUS. People like you. They like cheerful goodnatured barbarians.
They have elected you President five times in succession. They will
elect you five times more. _I_ like you. You are better company than a
dog or a horse because you can speak.
BURGE-LUBIN. Am I a barbarian because you like me?
CONFUCIUS. Surely. Nobody likes me: I am held in awe. Capable persons
are never liked. I am not likeable; but I am indispensable.
BURGE-LUBIN. Oh, cheer up, old man: theres nothing so disagreeable about
you as all that. I don't dislike you; and if you think I'm afraid of
you, you jolly well don't know Burge-Lubin: thats all.
CONFUCIUS. You are brave: yes. It is a form of stupidity.
BURGE-LUBIN. You may not be brave: one doesn't expect it from a Chink.
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