Original Text:
子曰君子不可小知而可大受也小人不可大受而可小知也
Translation:
Other Translations:
The Master said, “The gentleman is incapable of petty cleverness, but he can take on great tasks; the petty person is the opposite.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, The gentleman cannot handle affairs demanding only limited understanding, but he is capable of large undertakings. The petty man is not capable of large undertakings, but he can handle affairs demanding limited understanding.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.