Analects – Book Fifteen

Analects 15.1

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Original Text:

卫灵公问陈于孔子孔子对曰俎豆之事则尝闻之矣军旅之事未之学也明日遂行

Translation:

Other Translations:

Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about military formations.

Confucius replied, “I know something about the arrangement of ceremonial stands and dishes for ritual offerings, but I have never learned about the arrangement of battalions and divisions.”

He left the next day.

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

Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about battle formations. Confucius replied, With regard to sacrificial platters and stands, I have some learning. But I have never studied military affairs.

The next day he left Wei for good.

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

Analects 15.2

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Original Text:

在陈绝粮从者病莫能兴子路愠见曰君子亦有穷乎子曰君子固穷小人穷斯滥矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

[When Confucius was besieged] in the state of Chen, all of the provisions were exhausted, and his followers were so weak from hunger that they could not even stand. Upset, Zilu appeared before the Master and said, “Does even the gentleman encounter hardship?”

The Master said, “Of course the gentleman encounters hardship. The difference is that the petty man, encountering hardship, is overwhelmed by it.”

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

When Confucius was in Chen, he ran out of provisions and his followers were so weak that none of them could stand up. Zilu confronted Confucius angrily, saying, Does the gentleman have to put up with such hardships?

The Master said, The gentleman remains firm in the face of hardships. The petty man, when he encounters hardship, gives way to panic.

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