Analects - Book Eleven - Confucian Pages

Analects 11.16

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Original Text:

子贡问师与商也孰贤子曰师也过商也不及曰然则师愈与子曰过犹不及

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Zigong asked, “Who is more worthy, Zizhang or Zixia?”
The Master replied, “Zizhang overshoots the mark, while Zixia falls short of it.”
“Then can we say that Zizhang is better?”
The Master replied, “Overshooting the mark is just as bad as falling short of it.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong asked, Of Shi (Zizhang) and Shang (Zixia), which is worthier?
The Master said, Shi goes too far; Shang, not far enough.
Then Shi is the better man?
The Master said, Going too far is as bad as not going far enough.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.15

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Original Text:

子曰由之瑟奚为于丘之门门人不敬子路子曰由也升堂矣未入于室也

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The Master was heard to remark, “What is Zilu doing in my school, playing the zither the way he does?”
After this, the disciples began treating Zilu in a disrespectful manner. The Master reproved them, saying, “Although Zilu has not yet entered the inner chamber, he has at least ascended to the reception hall.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

he Master said, You’s zither playing hardly fits the style of my school. The other disciples began to treat Zilu with disrespect. The Master said, You is qualified to ascend the hall, though he has not yet entered the inner room.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.14

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Original Text:

鲁人为长府闵子骞曰仍旧贯如之何何必改作子曰夫人不言言必有中

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The people of Lu were planning to remodel the Long Treasury.
Min Ziqian remarked, “Why not simply restore it? Why does it need to be completely remodeled?”
The Master said, “That man does not talk much, but when he does say something he inevitably hits the mark.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The people of Lu were rebuilding the Long Treasury. Min Ziqian said, Why not build it along the old lines? What need is there to make changes?
The Master said, This man doesn’t say much, but when he does speak, he’s sure to hit the mark.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.13

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Original Text:

闵子侍侧訚訚如也子路行行如也冉有子贡侃侃如也子乐若由也不得其死然

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Min Ziqian was attending the Master, standing at his side in a straight and correct manner; [also attending were] Zilu, looking bold and uncompromising, and Ran Qiu and Zigong, both of whom appeared happy and at ease.
The Master was pleased, but remarked, “Someone like Zilu will not get to live out his years.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When Min Ziqian attended the Master, his manner was highly respectful. Zilu was bold and resolute, while Ran You and Zigong were relaxed and genial. The Master was pleased, but he said, A man like You (Zilu) will not die a natural death.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.12

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Original Text:

季路问事鬼神子曰未能事人焉能事鬼曰敢问死曰未知生焉知死

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Zilu asked about serving ghosts and spirits. The Master said, “You are not yet able to serve people—how could you be able to serve ghosts and spirits?”
“May I inquire about death?”
“You do not yet understand life—how could you possibly understand death?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Jilu asked how one should serve the gods and spirits. The Master said, When you don’t yet know how to serve human beings, how can you serve the spirits?
Jilu said, May I venture to ask about death? The Master said, When you don’t yet understand life, how can you understand death?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.11

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Original Text:

颜渊死门人欲厚葬之子曰不可门人厚葬之子曰回也视予犹父也予不得视犹子也非我也夫二三子也

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When Yan Hui passed away, the disciples wished to give him a lavish funeral.
The Master said, “That would not be proper.”
The disciples nonetheless went ahead and buried Yan Hui lavishly.
The Master remarked, “Hui looked upon me as a father, and yet in this case I was unable to treat him as a son. This was not my choice, but rather yours, you disciples.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When Yan Yuan died, the disciples wanted to give him a lavish burial. The Master said, That won’t do! But the disciples gave him a lavish burial anyway.
The Master said, Hui looked on me as a father, but I could not bury him as I would a son. I’m not to blame—it was you young men!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.10

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Original Text:

颜渊死子哭之恸从者曰子恸矣曰有恸乎非夫人之为恸而谁为

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When Yan Hui passed away, the Master cried for him excessively. The disciples reproved him, saying, “Master, surely you are showing excessive grief!”
The Master replied, “Am I showing excessive grief? Well, for whom would I show excessive grief, if not for this man?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When Yan Yuan died, the Master mourned for him in a highly emotional manner. His followers said, Master, you are being too emotional.
The Master said, Am I too emotional? If I am not to be emotional for this man, who should I be emotional for?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.9

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Original Text:

颜渊死子曰噫天丧予天丧予

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When Yan Hui passed away, the Master lamented, “Oh! Heaven has bereft me! Heaven has bereft me!”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When Yan Yuan died, the Master said, Ah, Heaven is destroying me! Heaven is destroying me!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.8

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Original Text:

颜渊死颜路请子之车以为之椁子曰才不才亦各言其子也鲤也死有棺而无椁吾不徒行以为之椁以吾从大夫之后不可徒行也

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When Yan Hui died, Yan Lu, his father, requested the Master’s carriage, so that it could be used for Yan Hui’s coffin enclosure.
The Master replied, “Everyone recognizes his own son, whether he is talented or not. When Bo Yu, my own son, passed away, he had a coffin, but no enclosure. I did not go on foot in order to provide him with an enclosure. Having held rank below the ministers, it is not permissible for me to go on foot.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When Yan Yuan died, [his father] Yan Lu asked the Master if he would sell his carriage in order to provide money for an outer coffin.
The Master said, Whether the sons are talented or untalented, each man speaks up for his own. But when [my son] Li died, I provided an inner coffin but no outer coffin. I follow the high officials—it would not be right for me to go on foot.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 11.7

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Original Text:

季康子问弟子孰为好学孔子对曰有颜回者好学不幸短命死矣今也则亡

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Ji Kangzi asked, “Who among your disciples could be said to love learning?”
The Master replied, “There was one named Yan Hui who loved learning, but unfortunately he was fated to live a short life, and has since passed away. Now there are none who really love learning.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Ji Kangzi asked, Who among your disciples loves learning? Confucius replied, There was Yan Hui—he loved learning. Regrettably, he had only a short life and is dead now. Now there is no one.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects – Book Eleven

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