'He also said, "I am old; I cannot use his doctrines." Confucius took his departure'

This makes me remember an old story, the principal of which basically was that man who chooses good over bad is not the wisest. The wisest is the one who chooses the best even amongst the good. In this story I always thought that sometimes choosing the best is not the wisest choice.

When this guy takes his leave it might might not just be a matter of finding followers elsewhere. He might have stayed there and tried to convince the guy. The fact that this man states his old age (a factor that counts greatly towards that the time to change is gone for him) could have been a catalyst for Confucius to leave.