Analects - Book Thirteen - Confucian Pages

Analects 13.20

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Original Text:

子贡问曰何如斯可谓之士矣子曰行己有耻使于四方不辱君命可谓士矣曰敢问其次曰宗族称孝焉乡党称弟焉曰敢问其次曰言必信行必果踁踁然小人哉抑亦可以为次矣曰今之从政者何如子曰噫斗筲之人何足算也

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Zigong asked, “What does a person have to be like before he could be called a true scholar-official?”
The Master said, “Conducting himself with a sense of shame, and not dishonoring his ruler’s mandate when sent abroad as a diplomat—such a person could be called a scholar-official.”
“May I ask what the next best type of person is like?”
“His lineage and clan consider him filial, and his fellow villagers consider him respectful to his elders.”
“And the next best?”
“In his speech, he insists on being trustworthy, and with regard to his actions, he insists that they bear fruit. What a narrow, rigid little man he is! And yet he might still be considered the next best.”
“How about those who today are involved in government?”
The Master exclaimed, “Oh! Those petty functionaries are not even worth considering.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong asked, How should one conduct himself in order to be called a man of station?
The Master said, Be mindful of anything shameful in your actions. When sent on a mission to other regions in the four directions, do nothing to disgrace your ruler’s commands. Then you can be called a man of station.
And may I ask about a person on the next level?
The Master said, Among the members of his clan, he is praised for his filial conduct. In his village or community, he is praised for his brotherliness.
And may I ask about the next level?
The Master said, Their words are certain to be trustworthy; their actions, certain to be decisive. But petty men just plodding along can reach this level.
And how would you rate those who handle government affairs these days?
The Master said, Ah—peck and bushel people! Not even worth sizing up!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.19

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Original Text:

樊迟问仁子曰居处恭执事敬与人忠虽之夷狄不可弃也

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Fan Chi asked about Goodness.
The Master replied, “When occupying your place, remain reverent; when performing public duties, be respectful; and when dealing with others, be dutiful. These are virtues that cannot be abandoned, even if you go to dwell among the Yi or Di barbarians.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Fan Chi asked about humaneness. The Master said, In private life, be courteous; in handling affairs, respectful; in dealings with others, loyal. Even if you go among the Yi or Di tribes,7 these rules can never be put aside.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.18

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Original Text:

叶公语孔子曰吾党有直躬者其父攘羊而子证之孔子曰吾党之直者异于是父为子隐子为父隐直在其中矣

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The Duke of She said to Confucius, “Among my people there is one we call ‘Upright Gong.’ When his father stole a sheep, he reported him to the authorities.”
Confucius replied, “Among my people, those who we consider ‘upright’ are different from this: fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers. ‘Uprightness’ is to be found in this.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Talking with Confucius, the lord of She said, In our district there’s a fellow called Honest Body. When his father stole a sheep, the son testified against him.
Confucius said, In our district the honest people are different from that. A father covers up for his son; a son covers up for his father. There’s honesty in that, too.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.17

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Original Text:

子夏为莒父宰问政子曰无欲速无见小利欲速则不达见小利则大事不成

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Zixia, who was serving as steward of Jifu, asked about governing.
The Master said, “Do not crave speed, and do not be enticed by the prospect of minor gains. If you crave speed, then you will never arrive, and if you are distracted by the prospect of minor gains you will never complete major tasks.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When Zixia became steward of Jufu, he asked about government. The Master said, Don’t try to hurry things; don’t go after petty gain. Try to hurry, and you accomplish nothing. Go after petty gain, and the big undertakings won’t succeed.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.16

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Original Text:

叶公问政子曰近者说远者来

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The Duke of She asked about governing.
The Master said, “[Act so that] those near to you are pleased, and those who are far from you are drawn closer.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The lord of She asked about government. The Master said, When those close by are happy, those from far away gather around.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.15

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Original Text:

定公问一言而可以兴邦有诸孔子对曰言不可以若是其几也人之言曰为君难为臣不易如知为君之难也不几乎一言而兴邦乎

曰一言而丧邦有诸孔子对曰言不可以若是其几也人之言曰予无乐乎为君唯其言而莫予违也如其善而莫之违也不亦善乎如不善而莫之违也不几乎一言而丧邦乎

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Duke Ding asked, “A single saying that can cause a state to flourish—is there such a thing as this?”
Confucius replied, “There is no saying that can have that sort of effect. There is, however, something close. People have a saying, ‘Being a ruler is difficult, and being a minister is not easy.’ If this saying helps you to understand that being a ruler is difficult, does it not come close to being a single saying that can cause a state to flourish?”
Duke Ding asked, “A single saying that can cause a state to perish—is there such a thing as this?”
Confucius replied, “There is no saying that can have that sort of effect. There is, however, something close. People have a saying, ‘I take no joy in being a ruler, except that no one dares to oppose what I say.’ If what the ruler says is good, and no one opposes him, is this not good? On the other hand, if what he says is not good, and no one opposes him, does this not come close to being a single saying that can cause a state to perish?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Duke Ding asked, Is there one word that can bring prosperity to the domain?
Confucius replied, Words alone cannot do that. But there’s a saying that might come close. People say, To be a ruler is difficult; to be a minister is not easy. If the ruler understands that it is not easy to be a ruler, this would come close, would it not, to “one word that can bring prosperity to the domain”?
And is there one word that can bring ruin to the domain? asked the duke.
Confucius replied, Words alone cannot do that. But there’s a saying that might come close. People have a saying, I have no delight in being a ruler. My sole delight is making certain that no one contradicts my words.
If he is a good ruler and no one contradicts him, that would be good, would it not? But if he is not good and no one contradicts him, this would come close to being “one word that can bring ruin to the domain,” would it not?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.14

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Original Text:

冉子退朝子曰何晏也对曰有政子曰其事也如有政虽不吾以吾其与闻之

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Ran Qiu returned from court.
The Master asked, “Why so late?
Ran Qiu replied, “There were governmental matters to be discussed.”
The Master said, “No, what you were discussing were ‘private affairs’. If there were governmental matters to be discussed, how would I have not received word of them, even though I am not employed?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Master Ran came from a gathering of the court. The Master said, Why are you so late?
Ran You replied, There was government business.
The Master said, Routine matters, no doubt. If there had been real government business, though I do not hold office, I would surely have been consulted.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.13

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Original Text:

子曰苟正其身矣于从政乎何有不能正其身如正人何

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The Master said, “If you simply correct yourself, what difficulties could you encounter in government service? If you cannot correct yourself, how can you expect to correct others?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, If you can learn to correct yourself, what trouble could you have in administering government? But if you cannot correct yourself, how can you hope to correct others?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.12

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Original Text:

子曰如有王者必世而后仁

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The Master said, “If a true king were to arise, though, we would certainly see a return to Goodness after a single generation.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Even if we had a true king, it would require a generation before humaneness would prevail.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.11

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Original Text:

子曰善人为邦百年亦可以胜残去杀矣诚哉是言也

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The Master said, “‘If excellent people managed the state for a hundred years, then certainly they could overcome cruelty and do away with executions’—how true this saying is!”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, They say that if good men were to govern the domain for a hundred years, they could wipe out violence and put an end to killing. How true those words!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects – Book Thirteen

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