Analects – Book Nineteen

Analects 19.25

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Original Text:

陈子禽谓子贡曰子为恭也仲尼岂贤于子乎子贡曰君子一言以为知一言以为不知言不可不慎也夫子之不可及也犹天之不可阶而升也夫子之得邦家者所谓立之斯立道之斯行绥之斯来动之斯和其生也荣其死也哀如之何其可及也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, “You show reverence to Confucius, but how could he be more worthy than you?”

Zigong replied, “A gentleman can be judged wise or unwise on the basis of a single comment—this is why one cannot fail to be careful in one’s speech. One cannot equal the Master anymore than one can climb a stairway to the heavens. Had the Master acquired control of a state or noble family, then, as they say: ‘When he raised them up, they would stand; when he led them forward they would advance; when he comforted them they would come; and when he moved them they would become harmonious.’ His birth was glorious and his death was universally mourned. How could anyone equal him?”

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

Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, You are being too modest. How could Zhongni be a worthier man than you?

Zigong said, The gentleman speaks one word and shows that he is wise, speaks one word and shows that he is unwise. Therefore, he must be careful how he speaks. Our Master can no more be equaled than one can mount a stairway to the sky. If our Master were to preside over a state or a powerful family, then, as the saying has it, If he raised them, they would stand; if he led, they would go forward; if he chose peace, they would flock around; if he moved, they would move in harmony. In life he is glorious; in death, deeply mourned. How, then, could he be equaled?

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

Analects 19.24

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Original Text:

叔孙武叔毁仲尼子贡曰无以为也仲尼不可毁也他人之贤者丘陵也犹可逾也仲尼日月也无得而逾焉人虽欲自绝其何伤于日月乎多见其不知量也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Shusun Wushu was disparaging Confucius.

Zigong said, “It is pointless, Confucius cannot be disparaged. The worthiness of other people is like a hill or mound, in that one can still climb to the top of it. Confucius is like the sun and the moon—it is impossible to surmount him. Even if a person wished to cut himself off from their radiance, what harm could he do to the sun and the moon? All this would serve to show is that such a person did not know his limits.”

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

When Shusun Wushu spoke disparagingly of Zhongni, Zigong said, There’s no point in that. You can’t speak disparagingly of Zhongni. The worth of other persons is like a hill or knoll—you can still walk over it. But Zhongni is like the sun or the moon—no one can walk over them. Someone may decide to break off relations with the sun and moon, but what difference does that make to them? It only shows how little he understands his own capacity.

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

Analects 19.23

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Original Text:

叔孙武叔语大夫于朝曰子贡贤于仲尼子服景伯以告子贡子贡曰譬之宫墙赐之墙也及肩窥见室家之好夫子之墙数仞不得其门而入不见宗庙之美百官之富得其门者或寡矣夫子之云不亦宜乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Shusun Wushu remarked to his ministers at court, “Zigong is an even greater worthy than Confucius.” Zifu Jingbo reported this to Zigong.

Zigong replied, “Let us use the analogy of a residence surrounded by a wall. The walls around my residence are only shoulder-high, so people can look over them and see the beauty of the chambers and apartments within. The walls of the Master’s residence, on the other hand, are fifteen feet high. This means that, unless one is able to enter through the gate, one cannot see the fineness of the ancestral temples or the luxuriousness of the various offices. Those who have been able to enter through the gate are rather few, so it is not at all surprising that your master spoke as he did.”

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

Shusun Wushu, speaking to the high officials at court, said, Zigong is a worthier man than Zhongni. Zifu Jingbo reported this to Zigong.

Zigong said, To use the simile of the wall surrounding a building, my wall is only shoulder-high, so you can get a good view of the living quarters inside. But Confucius’s wall is many feet high. Unless you enter by the gate, you can never see the beauty of the ancestral altar or the wealth of rooms for the hundred officials. And those who manage to enter that gate are likely to be few. So it’s not surprising that that gentleman said what he did.

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

Analects 19.22

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Original Text:

卫公孙朝问于子贡曰仲尼焉学子贡曰文武之道未坠于地在人贤者识其大者不贤者识其小者莫不有文武之道焉夫子焉不学而亦何常师之有

Translation:

Other Translations:

Gongsun Chao of Wei asked Zigong, “From whom did Confucius acquire his learning?”

Zigong replied, “The Way of Kings Wen and Wu has not yet fallen to the ground—it still exists in people. Those who are worthy understand its greater aspects, while those who are unworthy understand its lesser aspects. There is no one who does not have the Way of Wen and Wu within them. From whom did the Master not acquire his learning? And what need was there for him to have a formal teacher?”

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

Gongsun Chao of Wei questioned Zigong, saying, Where did Zhongni (Confucius) study?

Zigong said, The Way of Wen and Wu has not yet disappeared completely. Among the populace, worthy men remember the essentials, and those of little worth remember the minor points. There are none who do not possess the Way of Wen and Wu, so how could our Master fail to study it? But how can you say he studied with any particular teacher?

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

Analects 19.21

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Original Text:

子贡曰君子之过也如日月之食焉过也人皆见之更也人皆仰之

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong said, “A gentleman’s errors are like an eclipse of the sun or the moon: when he errs, everyone notices it, but when he makes amends, everyone looks up to him.”

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

Zigong said, The gentleman’s errors are like eclipses of the sun or moon. His errors can be seen by all, and when he corrects them, all look up in admiration.

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

Analects 19.20

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Original Text:

子贡曰纣之不善不如是之甚也是以君子恶居下流天下之恶皆归焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong said, “Zhow’s wickedness was really not as extreme as they say. This is why the gentleman hates to dwell in low places, because all the badness in the world gathers there.”

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

Zigong said, Zhou was not really as evil as they say. That is why the gentleman hates to be held in low esteem—all the evil in the world ends up on him.

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

Analects 19.19

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Original Text:

孟氏使阳肤为士师问于曾子曾子曰上失其道民散久矣如得其情则哀矜而勿喜

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Meng Family appointed Yang Fu to be their Captain of the Guard, he went to ask Master Zeng for advice. Master Zeng said, “It has been a long time since those above lost the Way, and so the people lack guidance. When you uncover the truth in a criminal case, proceed with sorrow and compassion. Do not be pleased with yourself.”

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

The Meng family appointed Yang Fu to the post of chief judge, and he questioned Master Zeng about the office.

Master Zeng said, Those in high places have lost the Way, and the common people have long been without guidance. When you uncover the facts of a case, be sorrowful and compassionate, never pleased with yourself.

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

Analects 19.18

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Original Text:

曾子曰吾闻诸夫子孟庄子之孝也其他可能也其不改父之臣与父之政是难能也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “I have heard from the Master that, while it is possible to match the filial piety of Meng Zhuangzi in most respects, it is difficult to match the way he refrained from changing the ministers or governmental policies of his father.”

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

Master Zeng said, I have heard our Master say, The filial piety displayed by Meng Zhuang Zi can be matched in other respects. But the way he refrained from dismissing the officials appointed by his father or departing from his father’s ways of governing—that would be hard to match.

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

Analects 19.17

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Original Text:

曾子曰吾闻诸夫子人未有自致者也必也亲丧乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “I have heard from the Master that, even when a person has not yet been able to exert himself to the fullest, he will necessarily do so when it comes to mourning his own parents.”

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

Master Zeng said, I have heard our Master say, People never fully express what is in them. If one had to cite an exception, it would be when they are mourning a parent.

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

Analects 19.16

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Original Text:

曾子曰堂堂乎张也难与并为仁矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “How full of himself Zizhang is! It is hard to be Good in the company of such a person as this.”

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

Master Zeng said, Zizhang is imposing indeed, but side by side with one like that it’s hard to achieve humaneness.

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