子曰君子喻于义小人喻于利
The Master said, “The gentleman understands rightness, whereas the petty person understands profit.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, The gentleman is alert to what is right. The petty man is alert to what is profitable.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰参乎吾道一以贯之曾子曰唯子出门人问曰何谓也曾子曰夫子之道忠恕而已矣
The Master said, “Master Zeng! All that I teach can be strung together on a single thread.”
“Yes, sir.” Master Zeng responded.
After the Master left, the disciples asked, “What did he mean by that?”
Master Zeng said, “All that the Master teaches amounts to nothing more than dutifulness tempered by understanding.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Shen (Master Zeng), my Way has one theme running throughout!
Master Zeng said, Yes.
After the Master left, the disciples asked What did he mean?
Master Zeng said, The Master’s Way consists of loyalty and reciprocity alone.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰不患无位患所以立不患莫己知求为可知也
The Master said, “Do not be concerned that you lack an official position, but rather concern yourself with the means by which you might become established. Do not be concerned that no one has heard of you, but rather strive to become a person worthy of being known.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Don’t worry that you have no position – worry about how you can qualify for one. Don’t worry that people don’t know you – look for some reason to become known.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰能以礼让为国乎何有不能以礼让为国如礼何
The Master said, “If a person is able to govern the state by means of ritual propriety and deference, what difficulties will he encounter? If, on the other hand, a person is not able to govern the state through ritual propriety and deference, of what use are the rites to him?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Can you govern the state with ritual and a deferential approach? then you will have no difficulty. If you cannot govern the state with ritual and a deferential approach, then what use is ritual alone?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰放于利而行多怨
The Master said, “If in your affairs you abandon yourself to the pursuit of profit, you will arouse much resentment.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Act only with profit in mind, and you face much rancor.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰君子怀德小人怀土君子怀刑小人怀惠
The Master said, “The gentleman cherishes virtue, whereas the petty person cherishes physical possessions. The gentleman thinks about punishments, whereas the petty person thinks about exemptions.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, The gentleman has his mind fixed on virtue; the petty man has his mind fixed on land. The gentleman has his mind fixed on penalties; the petty man has his mind fixed on bounty.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰君子之于天下也无适也无莫也义之与比
The Master said, “With regard to the world, the gentleman has no predispositions for or against any person. He merely associates with those he considers right.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, With regard to worldly affairs, the gentleman has no strong likes and no strong dislikes – he sides with what is right.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰士志于道而耻恶衣恶食者未足与议也
The Master said, “A scholar-official who has set his heart upon the Way, but who is still ashamed of having shabby clothing or meager rations, is not worth engaging in discussion.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said A man of station whose will is set on the Way but who is ashamed of poor clothing and poor food – not worth talking to!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰朝闻道夕死可矣
The Master said, “Having in the morning heard that the Way was being put into practice, I could die that evening without regret.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Hear the Way in the morning, and it won’t matter if you die that evening.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰人之过也各于其党观过斯知仁矣
The Master said, “People are true to type with regard to what sort of mistakes they make. Observe closely the sort of mistakes a person makes – then you will know his character.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, People’s errors vary with the category they belong to. Look at the errors, and you know the degree of humaneness.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
