Analects – Book Seven

Analects 7.18

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Original Text:

子所雅言诗书执礼皆雅言也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master used the classical pronunciation when reciting the Odes and the History, and when conducting ritual. In all of these cases, he used the classical pronunciation.

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

The Master used the correct pronunciations when speaking of the Odes and Documents or the conduct of rituals. On all such occasions, he used the correct pronunciations.

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

Analects 7.17

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Original Text:

子曰加我数年五十以学易可以无大过矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If I were granted many more years, and could devote fifty of them to learning, surely I would be able to be free of major faults.”

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

The Master said, Give me a few more years—if I have fifty years to study, then perhaps I, too, can avoid any great errors.

[Or, according to the more widely accepted Ku text:] if I have fifty years to study the Book of Changes, then perhaps I, too, can avoid any great errors.

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

Analects 7.16

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Original Text:

子曰饭疏食饮水曲肱而枕之乐亦在其中矣不义而富且贵于我如浮云

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Eating plain food and drinking water, having only your bent arm as a pillow—certainly there is joy to be found in this! Wealth and eminence attained improperly concern me no more than the floating clouds.”

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

The Master said, Eating simple food, drinking water, a bended arm for a pillow—there’s happiness in these things too. Wealth and eminence gained by unrightful means are to me mere drifting clouds.

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

Analects 7.15

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Original Text:

冉有曰夫子为卫君乎子贡曰诺吾将问之入曰伯夷叔齐何人也曰古之贤人也曰怨乎曰求仁而得仁又何怨出曰夫子不为也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ran Qiu was wondering out loud, “Does the Master support the Duke of Wei?”

Zigong replied, “Well, I will go ask him.”

He went in to see the Master, and said, “What sort of people were Bo Yi and Shu Qi?”

The Master replied, “They were ancient worthies.”

“Did they harbor any regrets?”

“They pursued Goodness and attained Goodness, what regrets could they possible have?”

Zigong emerged and reported to the other disciples, “The Master does not support him.”

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

Ran You said, Will our Master side with the ruler of Wei? Zigong said, Very well, I’ll go and ask him.

Entering the Master’s room, Zigong said, What sort of men were Bo Yi and Shu Qi?

The Master said, Worthy men of antiquity.

Did they harbor rancor?

They sought to behave humanely, and they succeeded in doing so. Why would they harbor rancor?

When Zigong emerged from the room, he said, Our Master will not side with the ruler of Wei.

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

Analects 7.14

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Original Text:

子在齐闻韶三月不知肉味曰不图为乐之至于斯也

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Master was in the state of Qi, he heard the Shao music, and for three months after did not even notice the taste of meat. He said, “I never imagined that music could be so sublime.”

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

When the Master was in Qi, he heard the Shao music and for three months no longer knew what sort of meat he was eating. He said, I never supposed that music could reach such heights!

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

Analects 7.13

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Original Text:

子之所慎齐战疾

Translation:

Other Translations:

When it came to fasting, war, and illness, the Master exercised caution.

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

The Master exercised great care with regard to the following: preparations for a sacrifice, warfare, and illness.

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

Analects 7.12

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Original Text:

子曰富而可求也虽执鞭之士吾亦为之如不可求从吾所好

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If wealth were something worth pursuing, then I would pursue it, even if that meant serving as an officer holding a whip at the entrance to the marketplace. Since it is not worth pursuing, however, I prefer to follow that which I love.”

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

The Master said, If one could get rich just by trying, then although it meant being a herald with whip in hand, I would go along with that. But if one can’t get rich just by trying, I prefer to follow my own desires.

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

Analects 7.11

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Original Text:

子谓颜渊曰用之则行舍之则藏惟我与尔有是夫子路曰子行三军则谁与子曰暴虎冯河死而无悔者吾不与也必也临事而惧好谋而成者也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master remarked to Yan Hui, “It is said, ‘When he is employed, he moves forward; when he is removed from office, he holds himself in reserve.’ Surely this applies only to you and me?”

Zilu interposed, “If you, Master, were to lead the three armies into battle, who would you want by your side?”

The Master replied, “I would not want by my side the kind of person who would attack a tiger barehanded or attempt to swim the Yellow River, because he was willing to ‘die without regret.’ Surely I would want someone who approached such undertakings with a proper sense of trepidation, and who came to a decision only after having thoroughly considered the matter.”

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

The Master said to Yan Yuan, When needed, to act; when cast aside, to retire—only you and I know how to do that—isn’t that so?

Zilu said, If you, Master, were directing the Three Armies, who would you take with you?

The Master said, Someone who faces a tiger bare-handed or wades the Yellow River, going to his death with no regrets—I wouldn’t take anyone like that. If I must answer, then I’d take someone who directs affairs in a mood of apprehension, who plans carefully and thereby succeeds.

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

Analects 7.10

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Original Text:

子于是日哭则不歌

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master would never sing on a day when he had wept.

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

On a day when the Master had wept for someone, he never sang.

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

Analects 7.9

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Original Text:

子食于有丧者之侧未尝饱也

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Master dined in the company of one who was in mourning, he never ate his fill.

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

When the Master was eating at the side of a person in mourning, he never ate his fill. On a day when the Master had wept for someone, he never sang.

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