Analects – Book Seven

Analects 7.8

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Original Text:

子曰不愤不启不悱不发举一隅不以三隅反则不复也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I will not open the door for a mind that is not already striving to understand, nor will I provide words to a tongue that is not already struggling to speak. If I hold up one corner of a problem, and the student cannot come back to me with the other three, I will not attempt to instruct him again.”

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

The Master said, If they’re not eager to learn, I don’t enlighten them; if they’re not struggling to put it into words, I don’t assist them. I hold up one corner to show them, and if they can’t come back with the other three, then I don’t go on.

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

Analects 7.7

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Original Text:

子曰自行束脩以上吾未尝无诲焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I have never denied instruction to anyone who, of their own accord, offered up as little as a bundle of silk or bit of cured meat.”

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

The Master said, If a person comes with a bundle of dried meat or better, I’ve never refused him instruction.

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

Analects 7.6

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Original Text:

子曰志于道据于德依于仁游于艺

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Set your heart upon the Way, rely upon Virtue, lean upon Goodness, and explore widely in your cultivation of the arts.”

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

The Master said, Set your sights on the Way, base yourself on virtue, rely on humaneness, relax with the arts.

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

Analects 7.5

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Original Text:

子曰甚矣吾衰也久矣吾不复梦见周公

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “How seriously I have declined! It has been so long since I last dreamt of meeting the Duke of Zhou.”

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

he Master said, How great is my decline! It’s been so long since I dreamed that I saw the duke of Zhou!

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

Analects 7.4

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Original Text:

子之燕居申申如也夭夭如也

Translation:

Other Translations:

In his leisure moments, the Master was composed and yet fully at ease.

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

The Master when he was at leisure—very relaxed, very genial.

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

Analects 7.3

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Original Text:

子曰德之不修学之不讲闻义不能徙不善不能改是吾忧也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “That I fail to cultivate Virtue, that I fail to inquire more deeply into that which I have learned, that upon hearing what is right I remain unable to move myself to do it, and that I prove unable to reform when I have done something wrong—such potential failings are a source of constant worry to me.”

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

The Master said, Virtue not sufficiently practiced, learning not sufficiently digested, to hear what is right and not be able to do it, to have shortcomings and not be able to remedy them—these are the things that I worry about.

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

Analects 7.1

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Original Text:

子曰述而不作信而好古窃比于我老彭

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I transmit rather than innovate. I trust in and love the ancient ways. I might thus humbly compare myself to Old Peng.”

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

The Master said, A transmitter and not a maker, trusting in and loving antiquity, I venture to compare myself with our Old Peng.

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

Analects 7.2

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Original Text:

子曰默而识之学而不厌诲人不倦何有于我哉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Remaining silent and yet comprehending, learning and yet never becoming tired, encouraging others and never growing weary—these are tasks that present me with no difficulty.”

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

The Master said, To be silent and understand, to learn without tiring, never to weary of teaching others—this much I can do.

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