Analects 9.2
Original Text:
达巷党人曰大哉孔子博学而无所成名子闻之谓门弟子曰吾何执执御乎执射乎吾执御矣
Translation:
Other Translations:
A villager from Daxiang remarked sarcastically, “How great is Confucius! He is so broadly learned, and yet has failed to make a name for himself in any particular endeavor.”
When the Master was told of this, he said to his disciples, “What art, then, should I take up? Charioteering? Archery? I think I shall take up charioteering.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
A villager of Daxiang said, What a great man Confucius is! He has studied widely, but he doesn’t make any particular name for himself.
When the Master heard this, he said to his disciples, What should I specialize in? Should I specialize in charioteering? Should I specialize in archery? I think I’ll specialize in charioteering.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.