Original Text:
子华使于齐冉子为其母请粟子曰与之釜请益曰与之庾冉子与之粟五秉子曰赤之适齐也乘肥马衣轻裘吾闻之也君子周急不继富
Translation:
Other Translations:
When Zihua went on an official mission to the state of Qi, Ran Qiu requested a stipend of millet for his mother.
The Master said, “Give her a fu .”
Ran Qiu asked that the stipend be larger.
The Master said, “Give her an yu then.”
In the end, Ran Qiu gave her five bing.
[Upon hearing of this], the Master commented, “When Zihua left for Qi he was riding a fat horse and wearing light furs. I have heard it said that the gentleman aids the needy but does not help the rich to become richer.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zihua went on a mission to the state of Qi. Ran Qiu asked that Zihua’s mother be given an allowance of grain. The Master said, Give her a peck. When Ran Qiu asked for more, the Master said, Give her a bushel. Ran Qiu in the end gave her five large measures of grain.
The Master said, When Chi (Gongxi Zihua) set off for Qi, he had a team of fat horses and was wearing light furs. The way I’ve heard it, the gentleman helps out the needy but does not contribute to the upkeep of the rich.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.