Analects - Book Fourteen - Confucian Pages

Analects 14.44

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

阙党童子将命或问之曰益者与子曰吾见其居于位也见其与先生并行也非求益者也欲速成者也

Translation:

Other Translations:

A boy from the Que district came bearing a message to Confucius. Someone asked Confucius about him, saying, “Is this someone who is likely to improve himself?”
The Master replied, “I observed him sitting in the presence of adults, and also walking alongside his elders. He is not looking to improve himself, but is just after quick success.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

A young boy of the village of Que was assigned to carry messages. Someone asked Confucius about him, saying, Is he improving himself?
The Master said, I’ve seen him sit in the seat for adults, seen him walk shoulder to shoulder with his elders. He’s not trying to improve himself—he’s just in a hurry to be treated as a grownup.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.43

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

原壤夷俟子曰幼而不孙弟长而无述焉老而不死是为贼以杖叩其胫

Translation:

Other Translations:

Yuan Rang sat casually, with his legs sprawled out, waiting for Confucius.
On seeing him, the Master remarked, “A young man devoid of humility and respect for his elders will grow into an adult who contributes nothing to his community. Growing older and older without the dignity to pass away, he becomes a burden on society.” He then rapped him on the shin with his staff.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Yuan Rang sat waiting for Confucius in a slovenly posture. The Master said, Young but not properly submissive, grown and no one speaks well of you, old and you still don’t die—a real pest!
He rapped on Yuan’s shins with his cane.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.42

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子路问君子子曰修己以敬曰如斯而已乎曰修己以安人曰如斯而已乎曰修己以安百姓修己以安百姓尧舜其犹病诸

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu asked about the gentleman.
The Master said, “He cultivates himself in order to achieve respectfulness.”
“Is that all?”
“He cultivates himself in order to bring peace to others.”
“Is that all?”
“He cultivates himself in order to bring peace to all people. Cultivating oneself and thereby bringing peace to all people is something even a Yao or a Shun would find difficult.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zilu asked about the gentleman. The Master said, He trains himself to be respectful.
Is that all?
The Master said, He trains himself in order to give ease to others.
Is that all?
The Master said, He trains himself in order to give ease to all men and women. But training himself in order to give ease to all men and women—even the sages Yao and Shun found that hard to do.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.41

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子曰上好礼则民易使也

Translation:

Other Translations:

he Master said, “If those above love ritual, then the common people will be easy to manage.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, If those in high positions love ritual, the common people will be easy to employ.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.40

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子张曰书云‘高宗谅阴三年不言何谓也子曰何必高宗古之人皆然君薨百官总己以听于冢宰三年

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zizhang asked, “The Book of Documents says, ‘Gaozong stayed in his mourning hut, and did not speak for three years.’ What does this mean?”
The Master replied, “We do not have to confine ourselves to Gaozong—all of the ancients were the same. When their lord passed away, for three years the hundred officials would all see to their own tasks, under the direction of the Prime Minister.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zizhang said, The Book of Documents states that Gao Zong was in his mourning hut for three years without speaking. What does this mean?
The Master said, Why only Gao Zong? The men of ancient times all did this. When the ruler passed away, the officials under him for three years took all their instructions from the prime minister.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.39

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子击磬于卫有荷蒉而过孔氏之门者曰有心哉击磬乎既而曰鄙哉硁硁乎莫己知也斯己而已矣深则厉浅则揭子曰果哉末之难矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master was playing the stone chimes in the state of Wei.
A man with a wicker basket strapped to his back passed by the door of the Kong Family residence and remarked, “Whoever is playing the chimes like that certainly has something on his mind!” After listening for a moment, he added, “How despicable is this petty stubbornness! If no one understands you, just tend to yourself.
‘If the river ford is deep, use the stepping-stones;
If it is shallow, simply raise your hem.’ ”
The Master [hearing these comments] responded, “Such resoluteness! Who could take issue with that!”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When he was in Wei, the Master was once playing the chiming stones. A man carrying a basket passed the gate of the house where Confucius was staying. He said, Someone of strong convictions is sounding the stones! After a while he said, Shallow—all this clang-clanging! If no one understands you, you give up, that’s all.
In deep water, let your robe get wet;
In shallow, hike it up.
The Master said, Quite right—that would be the easy way out.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.38

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子路宿于石门晨门曰奚自子路曰自孔氏曰是知其不可而为之者与

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu spent the night at Stone Gate. The next morning, the gatekeeper asked him, “Where have you come from?”
Zilu answered, “From the house of Confucius.”
“Isn’t he the one who knows that what he does is impossible and yet persists anyway?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zilu stopped for the night at Stone Gate. The gatekeeper said, Where are you from? Zilu said, From the household of Confucius.
The gatekeeper said, The one who knows there’s nothing that can be done but keeps on trying?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.37

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子曰贤者辟世其次辟地其次辟色其次辟言子曰作者七人矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Worthy people go into reclusion because the age itself is disordered; those next in worth withdraw because their state is disordered; next still are those who withdraw because of a discourteous expression on their ruler’s face; and finally there are those who will withdraw at a single discourteous word.”
The Master said, “Those who did so number seven.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Worthy persons retire from the world. The next best retire from the region. The next best retire because of a look. The next best retire because of a word.
The Master said, There were seven who did so.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.36

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

公伯寮愬子路于季孙子服景伯以告曰夫子固有惑志于公伯寮吾力犹能肆诸市朝子曰道之将行也与命也道之将废也与命也公伯寮其如命何

Translation:

Other Translations:

Gongbo Liao submitted an accusation against Zilu to the head of the Ji Family. Zifu Jingbo reported this to Confucius, adding, “That master [i.e., Ji Kangzi] has certainly been led astray by Gongbo Liao, but my influence with him is still sufficient to see to it that Gongbo Liao’s corpse is displayed at court or in the marketplace.”
The Master said, “Whether or not the Way is to be put into action is a matter of fate. Whether or not the Way is to be discarded is also a matter of fate. What power does Gongbo Liao have to affect fate!”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Gongbo Liao spoke ill of Zilu to the head of the Ji family. Zifu Jingbo reported this, saying, My master[, Ji Sun,] has for some time been led astray by Gongbo Liao. But I still have enough influence to see that Gongbo Liao is executed and his corpse exposed in the marketplace.
The Master said, If the Way is destined to proceed, that is a matter of fate. And if the Way is destined to fail, that too is fate. How can Gongbo Liao change what is fated?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.35

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子曰莫我知也夫子贡曰何为其莫知子也子曰不怨天不尤人下学而上达知我者其天乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master sighed, “Alas! No one understands me.”
Zigong replied, “How can you say that no one understands you, Master?”
“I am not bitter toward Heaven, nor do I blame others. I study what is below in order to comprehend what is above. If there is anyone who could understand me, perhaps it is Heaven.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, No one understands me—isn’t that so?
Zigong said, Why do you suppose that no one understands you?
The Master said, I bear no grudge against Heaven; I do not blame others. I study affairs close at hand and try to become adept in higher matters. Perhaps it is Heaven that understands me!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects – Book Fourteen

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations:

Original Text:

Translation:

Other Translations: