Analects – Book Six

Analects 6.30

Original Text:

子贡曰如有博施于民而能济众何如可谓仁乎子曰何事于仁必也圣乎尧舜其犹病诸夫仁者己欲立而立人己欲达而达人能近取譬,可谓仁之方也已

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong said, “If there were one able to broadly extend his benevolence to the common people and bring succor to the multitudes, what would you make of him? Could such a person be called Good?”

The Master said, “Why stop at Good? Such a person should surely be called a sage! Even someone like Yao or Shun would find such a task daunting. Desiring to take his stand, one who is Good helps others to take their stand; wanting to realize himself, he helps others to realize themselves. Being able to take what is near at hand as an analogy could perhaps be called the method of Goodness.”

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

Zigong said, If someone could spread bounty abroad among the people and rescue the populace, how would that be? Could that be called humaneness?

The Master said, Why bring humaneness into the discussion? If you must have a label, call the man a sage. Even Yao and Shun had trouble doing that much.

The humane person wants standing, and so he helps others to gain standing. He wants achievement, and so he helps others to achieve. To know how to proceed on the analogy of what is close at hand—this can be called the humane approach.

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

Analects 6.29

Original Text:

子曰中庸之为德也其至矣乎民鲜久矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Acquiring Virtue by applying the mean—is this not best? And yet among the common people few are able to practice this virtue for long.”

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

The Master said, The virtue embodied in the doctrine of the Mean11 is of the highest order. But it has long been rare among people.

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

Analects 6.28

Original Text:

子见南子子路不说夫子矢之曰予所否者天厌之天厌之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master had an audience with Nanzi, and Zilu was not pleased. The Master swore an oath, saying, “If I have done anything wrong, may Heaven punish me! May Heaven punish me!”

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

The Master had an audience with Nanzi. Zilu was not pleased. Confucius swore an oath, saying, If I have done anything wrong, may Heaven cast me aside! May Heaven cast me aside!

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

Analects 6.27

Original Text:

子曰君子博学于文约之以礼亦可以弗畔矣夫

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Someone who is broadly learned with regard to culture, and whose conduct is restrained by the rites, can be counted upon to not go astray.”

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

The Master said, If the gentleman acquires broad learning in cultural matters and focuses it through ritual, he is hardly likely to go far astray, is he?

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

Analects 6.26

Original Text:

宰我问曰仁者虽告之曰井有仁焉其从之也子曰何为其然也君子可逝也不可陷也可欺也不可罔也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zai Wo asked, “If someone lied to a Good person, saying ‘a man has just fallen into the well!’, would he go ahead and jump in after him [to save the supposed man]?”

The Master replied, “Why would he do that? The gentleman can be enticed, but not trapped; he can be tricked, but not duped.”

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

Zai Wo asked, If you were to tell a humane person that there was a humane person in a well, would he go to the rescue?

The Master said, Why would he do that? The gentleman can be made to go somewhere but not to fall into a trap. He can be deceived but not completely hoodwinked.

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

Analects 6.25

Original Text:

子曰觚不觚觚哉觚哉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “A gu that is not a proper gu—is it really a gu? Is it really a gu?”

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

The Master said, A gu drinking cup that is not a gu drinking cup—what a gu, what a gu!

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

Analects 6.24

Original Text:

子曰齐一变至于鲁鲁一变至于道

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “With a single change, Qi could measure up to Lu. With a single change, Lu could attain the Way.”

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

The Master said, With one change, Qi could measure up to Lu. And with one change, Lu could measure up to the Way.

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

Analects 6.23

Original Text:

子曰知者乐水仁者乐山知者动仁者静知者乐仁者寿

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The wise take joy in rivers, while the Good take joy in mountains. The wise are active, while the Good are still. The wise are joyful, while the Good are long-lived.”

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

The Master said, The wise delight in water; the humane delight in mountains. The wise move; the humane are still. The wise are happy; the humane live long.

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

Analects 6.22

Original Text:

樊迟问知子曰务民之义敬鬼神而远之可谓知矣问仁曰仁者先难而后获可谓仁矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Fan Chi asked about wisdom.

The Master said, “Working to ensure social harmony among the common people, respecting the ghosts and spirits while keeping them at a distance—this might be called wisdom.”

He then asked about Goodness.

The Master said, “One who is Good sees as his first priority the hardship of self-cultivation, and only after thinks about results or rewards. Yes, this is what we might call Goodness.”

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

Fan Chi asked about wisdom. The Master said, Work to lead the people toward what is right. Respect the gods and spirits but keep them at a distance—this can be called wisdom.

When he asked about humaneness, the Master said, Humaneness means tending to difficulties first and leaving benefits for later—this can be called humaneness.

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

Analects 6.21

Original Text:

子曰中人以上可以语上也中人以下不可以语上也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “You can discuss the loftiest matters with those who are above average, but not with those who are below average.”

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

The Master said, To persons of more than middling capability, you can talk of higher matters. To persons of less than middling capability, you cannot talk of such matters.

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