Original Text:
子曰南人有言曰人而无恒不可以作巫医善夫不恒其德或承之羞子曰不占而已矣
Translation:
Other Translations:
The Master said, “The Southerners have a saying, ‘The fate of a person who lacks constancy cannot be diagnosed by the shaman-healers.’ How well put!”
[It is also said,] “One inconstant in Virtue will probably incur disgrace.” The Master commented, “It simply cannot be foretold through divination.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Southerners have a saying: If a person lacks constancy, he cannot become a shaman or a doctor. Well put, is it not? Someone not constant in virtue is likely to suffer disgrace.
And the Master said, No need to consult a diviner to know that much!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.