Analects – Book Fifteen

Analects 15.42

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Original Text:

师冕见及阶子曰阶也及席子曰席也皆坐子告之曰某在斯某在斯师冕出子张问曰与师言之道与子曰然固相师之道也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Music Master Mian came to see Confucius.

When they came to the steps, the Master said, “Here are the steps.” When they reached his seat, the Master said, “Here is your seat.” After everyone was seated, the Master informed him as to who was present, saying, “So-and-so is seated here, and So-and-so is seated over there.”

When the Music Master left, Zizhang asked, “Is this the way to converse with a Music Master?”

The Master replied, “Yes, this is indeed the way to assist a Music Master.”

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

Music Master Mian called on Confucius. When they reached the steps, the Master said, Here are the steps. When they reached the seating mats, the Master said, Here are the mats. After everyone was seated, the Master reported, So-and-so is over here. So-and-so is over there.

After Music Master Mian had left, Zizhang asked, Is that the way one talks to a music master? The Master said, Yes, of course. That’s how one assists a music master.

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

Analects 15.41

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Original Text:

子曰辞达而已矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Words should convey their point, and leave it at that.”

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

The Master said, With words it is enough if they get the meaning across.

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

Analects 15.40

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Original Text:

子曰道不同不相为谋

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Do not take counsel with those who follow a different Way.”

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

The Master said, If your Way is not the same, you cannot lay plans for one another.

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

Analects 15.39

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Original Text:

子曰有教无类

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “In education, there are no differences in kind.”

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

The Master said, In matters of instruction, there should be no class distinctions.

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

Analects 15.38

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Original Text:

子曰事君敬其事而后其食

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “In serving your lord, show respect for the tasks you have been assigned. Do not make the salary you will receive a priority.”

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

The Master said, In serving the ruler, attend respectfully to your duties and look on pay as a secondary matter.

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

Analects 15.37

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Original Text:

子曰君子贞而不谅

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is true, but not rigidly trustworthy.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman is firm but not stubbornly unbending.

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

Analects 15.36

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Original Text:

子曰当仁不让于师

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “When it comes to being Good, defer to no one, not even your teacher.”

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

The Master said, In matters of humaneness, do not defer even to your teacher.

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

Analects 15.35

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Original Text:

子曰民之于仁也甚于水火水火吾见蹈而死者矣未见蹈仁而死者也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Goodness is even more vital to the common people than water or fire. I have seen people perish from walking through fire and water, but have never seen anyone perish by walking the path of Goodness.”

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

The Master said, Humaneness is more vital to the people than water or fire. I have seen people die from treading on water or fire, but I have never seen the person who died from treading the path of humaneness.

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

Analects 15.34

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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.

Analects 15.33

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Original Text:

子曰知及之仁不能守之虽得之必失之知及之仁能守之不庄以涖之则民不敬知及之仁能守之庄以涖之动之不以礼未善也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If your wisdom reaches it, but your Goodness cannot protect it, then even though you may have attained it, you are sure to eventually lose it. If your wisdom reaches it, and your Goodness is able to protect it, but you cannot manifest it with dignity, then the common people will not be respectful. If your wisdom reaches it, your Goodness is able to protect it, and you can manifest it with dignity, but you do not use ritual to put it into motion, it will never be truly excellent.”

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

The Master said, You might have sufficient knowledge to gain a position, but if you do not have the humaneness needed to hold on to it, then although you gain it, you will surely lose it. You might have sufficient knowledge to gain a position and the humaneness needed to hold on to it, but if you do not administer it with dignity, the common people will not respect you. You might have sufficient knowledge to gain a position, the humaneness needed to hold on to it, and may administer it with dignity, but if your actions do not accord with ritual, the results will be less than good.

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