The Master said, “In any village of ten households there are surely those who are as dutiful or trustworthy as I am, but there is no one who matches my love for learning.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, In a village of ten households there are certain to be those who are as loyal and trustworthy as I am, but none my equal in love of learning!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
The Master said, “Clever words, an ingratiating countenance, and perfunctory gestures of respect are all things that Zuoqiu Ming considered shameful, and I, too, consider them shameful. Concealing one’s resentment and feigning friendship toward another is something Zuoqiu considered shameful, and I, too, consider it shameful.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Clever words, a pleasing countenance, politeness overdone—Zuoqiu Ming would be ashamed of such, and I would be ashamed too. To hide your distaste for someone and become that person’s friend—Zuoqiu Ming would be ashamed of that, and I would be ashamed too.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
The Master said, “Who says that Weisheng Gao was upright? If someone asked him for vinegar, he would beg some from his neighbors and present it as his own.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Who claims that Weisheng Gao was honest? When someone came to borrow vinegar from him, he borrowed some from a neighbor and then gave it to the person.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
When the Master was in the state of Chen, he sighed, “Oh, let us go home! Let us go home! Our young followers back in Lu are wild and ambitious—they put on a great show of brilliant culture, but they lack the means to prune and shape it.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
When the Master was in Chen, he said, Let’s go home, let’s go home! The young people of our district are in high spirits but hasty. The cloth has been handsomely woven, but no one knows how to cut it.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
The Master said, “When the Way was being practiced in his state, Ning Wuzi was wise, but when the Way was not being practiced, he was stupid. His wisdom can be equaled, but no one can equal his stupidity.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, In the case of Ning Wu Zi, when the Way prevailed in the state, he was wise. When the Way did not prevail in the state, he was stupid. His wisdom can be equaled, but not his stupidity.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
Zizhang said, “Prime Minister Ziwen was given three times the post of prime minister, and yet he never showed a sign of pleasure; he was removed from this office three times, and yet never showed a sign of resentment. When the incoming prime minister took over, he invariably provided him with a complete account of the official state of affairs. What do you make of Prime Minister Ziwen?”
The Master said, “He certainly was dutiful.”
“Was he not Good?”
“I do not know about that—what makes you think he deserves to be called Good?”
“When Cuizi assassinated the Lord of Qi, Chen Wenzi—whose estate amounted to ten teams of horses—abandoned all that he possessed and left the state. Upon reaching another state, he said, ‘The officials here are as bad as our Great Officer Cuizi,’ and thereupon left that state. Again, after going to another state, he said, ‘The officials here are as bad as our Great Officer Cuizi,’ and thereupon left that state as well. What do you make of Chen Wenzi?”
The Master said, “He certainly was pure.”
“Was he not Good?”
“I do not know about that—what makes you think he deserves to be called Good?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zizhang asked, saying, Ziwen, the prime minister of Chu, served three times as prime minister but showed no sign of delight, and three times was dismissed from the post but showed no sign of resentment. As former prime minister, he invariably reported to the new prime minister on affairs of state. What do you think of this?
The Master said, He acted with loyalty.
Was he humane?
I don’t know how he can be called humane.
Cui Zi assassinated the ruler of Qi. Chen Wen Zi, who for his carriages owned ten four-horse teams, abandoned them and left the state. When he arrived in another state, he said, The people here are no better than our high official Cui Zi! and he left that state. Arriving in another state, he said, More like our high official Cui Zi! and he left that state, too. What would you say of him?
The Master said, A man of integrity.
Was he humane?
I don’t know how he can be called humane.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
