Analects - Book Six - Confucian Pages

Analects 6.10

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Original Text:

伯牛有疾子问之自牖执其手曰亡之命矣夫斯人也而有斯疾也斯人也而有斯疾也

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Boniu fell ill, and the Master went to ask after his health. Grasping his hand through the window, the Master sighed, “That we are going to lose him must be due to fate! How else could such a man be afflicted with such an illness, [and we left with nothing we can do?] How else could such a man be afflicted with such an illness?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Boniu (Ran Boniu) had an illness. The Master went to ask how he was, holding his hand through the window. He said, We are going to lose him. It’s fate, is it not? Such a man, and to have such an illness. Such a man, and to have such an illness.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.9

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Original Text:

季氏使闵子骞为费宰闵子骞曰善为我辞焉如有复我者则吾必在汶上矣

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The Ji Family offered Min Ziqian the position of steward of the Ji Family fortress at Bi.
Min Ziqian said [to the messenger bringing this news], “Please courteously decline the offer for me. If they ask for me again, you can find me beyond the banks of the Wen River.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

he Ji family wanted to appoint Min Ziqian as steward of Bi. Min Ziqian said, Can someone kindly refuse this offer for me? If they continue to press me, I will have to retire to the banks of the Wen River.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.8

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Original Text:

季康子问仲由可使从政也与子曰由也果于从政乎何有曰赐也可使从政也与曰赐也达于从政乎何有曰求也可使从政也与曰求也艺于从政乎何有

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Ji Kangzi asked, “Could Zilu be employed to carry out official business?”
The Master replied, “Zilu is resolute. What difficulty would he have carrying out official business?”
“What about Zigong?”
“Zigong is perceptive. What difficulty would he have carrying out official business?”
“What about Ran Qiu?”
“Ran Qiu is a master of the arts. What difficulty would he have carrying out official business?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Ji Kangzi asked, Would Zhongyou (Zilu) be suitable to hold government office?
The Master said, Zhongyou is decisive. Why wouldn’t he do for government office?
Would Si (Zigong) do for government office?
The Master said, Si is knowledgeable. Why wouldn’t he do for government office?
Would Qiu (Ran Qiu) do for government office?
The Master said, Qiu is talented. Why wouldn’t he do for government office?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.7

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Original Text:

子曰回也其心三月不违仁其余则日月至焉而已矣

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The Master said, “Ah, Yan Hui! For three months at a time his heart did not stray from Goodness. The rest could only sporadically maintain such a state.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, As for Hui, he could go three months without in his mind ever departing from humaneness. The others can do so for a day or a month, but that is all!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.6

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Original Text:

子谓仲弓曰犁牛之子骍且角虽欲勿用山川其舍诸

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With regard to Zhonggong, the Master said, “If the offspring of a plow-ox has a solid red coat and nicely-formed horns, even if people may think it unsuitable for sacrifice, would the spirits of the mountains and rivers reject it?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said of Zhonggong, The calf of an ordinary cow, if it is red in color and has proper horns, [is fit to be used as a sacrifice,] though people might hesitate to do so. Surely the gods of the mountains and rivers will not reject it.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.5

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Original Text:

原思为之宰与之粟九百辞子曰毋以与尔邻里乡党乎

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When Yuan Si was serving as steward, he was offered a salary of nine hundred measures of millet,4 but he declined it.
The Master said, “Do not decline it! [If you do not need it yourself], could you not use it to aid the households in your neighborhood?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When Yuan Si was given the post of steward, he was offered an allotment of nine hundred measures of grain, but he declined it.
The Master said, Oh, no! You could have shared it with your neighboring communities, couldn’t you?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.4

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Original Text:

子华使于齐冉子为其母请粟子曰与之釜请益曰与之庾冉子与之粟五秉子曰赤之适齐也乘肥马衣轻裘吾闻之也君子周急不继富

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When Zihua went on an official mission to the state of Qi, Ran Qiu requested a stipend of millet for his mother.
The Master said, “Give her a fu .”
Ran Qiu asked that the stipend be larger.
The Master said, “Give her an yu then.”
In the end, Ran Qiu gave her five bing.
[Upon hearing of this], the Master commented, “When Zihua left for Qi he was riding a fat horse and wearing light furs. I have heard it said that the gentleman aids the needy but does not help the rich to become richer.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zihua went on a mission to the state of Qi. Ran Qiu asked that Zihua’s mother be given an allowance of grain. The Master said, Give her a peck. When Ran Qiu asked for more, the Master said, Give her a bushel. Ran Qiu in the end gave her five large measures of grain.
The Master said, When Chi (Gongxi Zihua) set off for Qi, he had a team of fat horses and was wearing light furs. The way I’ve heard it, the gentleman helps out the needy but does not contribute to the upkeep of the rich.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.3

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Original Text:

哀公问弟子孰为好学孔子对曰有颜回者好学不迁怒不贰过不幸短命死矣今也则亡未闻好学者也

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Duke Ai asked, “Who among your disciples might be said to love learning?”
Confucius answered, “There was one named Yan Hui who loved learning. He never misdirected his anger and never made the same mistake twice. Unfortunately, his allotted lifespan was short, and he has passed away. Now that he is gone, there are none who really love learning—at least, I have yet to hear of one.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Duke Ai questioned Confucius, saying, Who among your disciples loves learning?
Confucius replied, There was Yan Hui—he loved learning, never took his anger out on others, never repeated his mistakes. Regrettably, he had a short life and is dead now. Since then, there are none who love learning, or none I’ve heard of.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.2

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Original Text:

仲弓问子桑伯子子曰可也简仲弓曰居敬而行简以临其民不亦可乎居简而行简无乃大简乎子曰雍之言然

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Zhonggong asked about Zisang Bozi.
The Master replied, “He is simple, and therefore acceptable.”
Zhonggong said, “To watch over the people by occupying one’s position with respect and being simple in one’s conduct—this is no doubt acceptable. To occupy one’s position with simplicity and also to be simple in one’s conduct, however, seems to me to be taking simplicity too far.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zhonggong asked about Zisang Bozi. The Master said, He will do—he’s lenient in nature.
Zhonggong said, If he is strict with himself but lenient when it comes to overseeing the common people, will that be all right? If one is lenient with himself and behaves toward others in a lenient manner, that’s too much leniency, isn’t it?
The Master said, What you say is correct.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.1

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Original Text:

子曰雍也可使南面子曰雍也可使南面

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The Master said, “Zhonggong can be given a position facing south.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Yong (Zhonggong Ran Yong) could be given a seat facing south.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects – Book Six

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