Analects 2.8

Original Text:

子夏问孝子曰色难有事弟子服其劳有酒食先生馔曾是以为孝乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia asked about filial piety. The Master said, “It is the demeanor that is difficult. If there is work to be done, disciples shoulder the burden, and when wine and food are served, elders are given precedence, but surely filial piety consists of more than this.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zixia asked about filial devotion. The Master said, The difficult part is the facial expression. As for young people taking on the heavy work when there’s something to be done, or older people going first when there’s wine and food – can this be called filial devotion?

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

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