Analects – Book Eight

Analects 8.11

Original Text:

子曰如有周公之才之美使骄且吝其余不足观也已

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If a person has talents as fine as the Duke of Zhou, but is arrogant and mean-spirited, the rest of his qualities are not worth notice.”

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

The Master said, Although one may have talents as admirable as those of the duke of Zhou, if he employs them in an arrogant or a mean manner, then whatever other qualities he has are not worth a look!

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

Analects 8.10

Original Text:

子曰好勇疾贫乱也人而不仁疾之已甚乱也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “A person who is fond of courage but who despises poverty will become rebellious. A person who is not Good, and who is excessively criticized for it, will also become rebellious.”

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

The Master said, Where there is love of daring and hatred of poverty, disorder will result. And if people lack humaneness and their hatred is extreme, disorder will result.

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

Analects 8.9

Original Text:

子曰民可使由之不可使知之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The common people can be made to follow it, but they cannot be made to understand it.”

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

The Master said, The common people can be made to follow a course, but cannot be made to understand why they should do so.

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

Analects 8.8

Original Text:

子曰兴于诗立于礼成于乐

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Find inspiration in the Odes, take your place through ritual, and achieve perfection with music.”

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

The Master said, Get your start with the Odes; acquire a firm standing through ritual; complete the process with music.

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

Analects 8.7

Original Text:

曾子曰士不可以不弘毅任重而道远仁以为己任不亦重乎死而后已不亦远乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “A scholar-official must be strong and resolute, for his burden is heavy and his way is long. He takes up Goodness as his own personal burden—is it not heavy? His way ends only with death—is it not long?”

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

Master Zeng said, The man of station must be both broad-minded and resolute. His burden is heavy, and the road is long. Humaneness is the burden he is charged with—heavy, is it not? The road ends only with death—long, is it not?

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

Analects 8.6

Original Text:

曾子曰可以托六尺之孤可以寄百里之命临大节而不可夺也君子人与君子人也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “Consider someone who can both be entrusted with the care of a young orphan and charged with the command a hundred-square-li state, and who can be confronted with great challenges without being shaken. Is this not the gentleman? Yes, this is the gentleman.”

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

Master Zeng said, Trust him as guardian to a six-foot orphan, charge him with the command of a hundred-league domain, he will preside over the most critical occasions and can never be diverted from his course. This is the gentleman, is it not? This is the gentleman.

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

Analects 8.5

Original Text:

曾子曰以能问于不能以多问于寡有若无实若虚犯而不校昔者吾友尝从事于斯矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “Able, and yet asking questions about abilities that one does not possess; using what one has much of in order to ask about what one lacks; having, yet seeming to lack; full, yet seeming empty; offended against, and yet feeling no need to retaliate. I once had a friend who was like this.”

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

Master Zeng said, Able but consulting those who lack ability, of many talents but consulting those with few, possessing but seeming to be without, full yet seeming to be empty, offended against but never retaliating—in the past I had a friend who always tried to be like that.

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

Analects 8.4

Original Text:

曾子有疾孟敬子问之曾子言曰鸟之将死其鸣也哀人之将死其言也善君子所贵乎道者三动容貌斯远暴慢矣正颜色斯近信矣出辞气斯远鄙倍矣笾豆之事则有司存

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng was gravely ill, and Meng Jingzi came to inquire about his health.

Master Zeng said to him, “When a bird is about to die, its call is mournful and touching. When a person is about to die, his words should be heeded. There are three things that are important for a gentleman pursuing the Way: by altering his behavioral demeanor, he avoids violence and arrogance; by rectifying his countenance, he welcomes trustworthiness; and in his choice of words and tone of voice, he avoids vulgarity and impropriety. As for the details of handling sacrificial vessels, there are minor officials to deal with that.”

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

When Master Zeng was ill, Meng Jing Zi asked how he was.

Master Zeng spoke these words: When a bird is about to die, its cries are sad. When a man is about to die, his words are good. With regard to the Way, there are three things the gentleman prizes: in his actions and manner, that he be far from harshness or arrogance; in ordering his appearance, that he stick close to trustworthiness; in his utterances, that they be far from crude or unseemly. As for the sacrificial baskets and stands, there are experts to tend to such matters.

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

Analects 8.1

Original Text:

子曰泰伯其可谓至德也已矣三以天下让民无得而称焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Surely we can say that the Great Uncle possessed ultimate Virtue! He declined rulership of the world three times, and yet remained unpraised because the common people never learned of his actions.”

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

The Master said, Tai Bo may be said to exemplify the highest virtue. Three times he relinquished the right to the empire, but the common people did not understand why this was praiseworthy.

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

Analects 8.3

Original Text:

曾子有疾召门弟子曰启予足启予手诗云战战兢兢如临深渊如履薄冰而今而后吾知免夫小子

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng was gravely ill and called his disciples to his bedside. “Uncover my feet! Uncover my hands!” he said to them. “The Odes say,

‘Fearful and cautious

As if looking down into a deep abyss

As if treading upon thin ice.’

Only now can I be sure of having made it through safely. Note this, my little ones!”

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

When Master Zeng was ill, he summoned his disciples and said, Uncover my feet, uncover my hands. The Ode says:

Tremble, tremble, be wary

as one on the brink of a deep pool,

as one crossing thin ice—

Now and hereafter I know I have escaped, my little ones—have I not?

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