Original Text:
仲弓问子桑伯子子曰可也简仲弓曰居敬而行简以临其民不亦可乎居简而行简无乃大简乎子曰雍之言然
Translation:
Other Translations:
Zhonggong asked about Zisang Bozi.
The Master replied, “He is simple, and therefore acceptable.”
Zhonggong said, “To watch over the people by occupying one’s position with respect and being simple in one’s conduct—this is no doubt acceptable. To occupy one’s position with simplicity and also to be simple in one’s conduct, however, seems to me to be taking simplicity too far.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zhonggong asked about Zisang Bozi. The Master said, He will do—he’s lenient in nature.
Zhonggong said, If he is strict with himself but lenient when it comes to overseeing the common people, will that be all right? If one is lenient with himself and behaves toward others in a lenient manner, that’s too much leniency, isn’t it?
The Master said, What you say is correct.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.