Original Text:
子张问行子曰言忠信行笃敬虽蛮貊之邦行矣言不忠信行不笃敬虽州里行乎哉立则见其参于前也在舆则见其倚于衡也夫然后行子张书诸绅
Translation:
Other Translations:
Zizhang asked about getting by in the world.
The Master replied, “In your speech, be dutiful and trustworthy, and in your conduct be sincere and respectful. In this way, you will always get by in the world, even if you find yourself in some barbarian state. If your words are not dutiful and trustworthy, and your conduct is not sincere and respectful, how can you possibly get along, even in your own region? When standing still, visualize these principles standing by your side; when riding in your carriage, see them resting before you on the crossbar. Only then will you get by in the world.”
Zizhang then wrote these words on the end of his sash.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zizhang asked about how to get along in the world. The Master said, If your words are loyal and trustworthy and your actions sincere and respectful, then even in the lands of the Man and Mo tribes you will get along. But if your words are not loyal and trustworthy and your actions not sincere and respectful, then even in your own district or village you won’t get along, will you? When you stand up, see these words plainly before you; when riding in your carriage, see them resting on the crossbar. Act in this way and then you will get along.
Zizhang wrote this down on his sash.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.