Analects – Book Twelve

Analects 12.4

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Twelve

Original Text:

司马牛问君子子曰君子不忧不惧曰不忧不惧斯谓之君子已乎子曰内省不疚夫何忧何惧

Translation:

Other Translations:

Sima Niu asked about the gentleman.

The Master replied, “The gentleman is free of anxiety and fear.”

“ ‘Free of anxiety and fear’—is that all there is to being a gentleman?”

“If you can look inside yourself and find no faults, what cause is there for anxiety or fear?”

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

Sima Niu asked about the gentleman. The Master said, A gentleman has no worries and has no fears.

Having no worries and no fears—is that what it means to be a gentleman?

The Master said, If, when he looks inside himself, he finds nothing to censure, then what could he worry about—what could he fear?

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

Analects 12.3

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Twelve

Original Text:

司马牛问仁子曰仁者其言也讱曰其言也讱斯谓之仁已乎子曰为之难言之得无讱乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Sima Niu asked about Goodness.

The Master said, “The Good person is hesitant to speak.”

“ ‘Hesitant to speak’—is that all there is to Goodness?”

“When being Good is so difficult, how can one not be hesitant to speak about it?”

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

Sima Niu asked about humaneness. The Master said, The humane person is cautious about how he speaks of it.

Being cautious in how you speak—is that what it means to be humane?

The Master said, When it is so difficult to do, how can you fail to be cautious in speaking of it?

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

Analects 12.2

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Twelve

Original Text:

仲弓问仁子曰出门如见大宾使民如承大祭己所不欲勿施于人在邦无怨在家无怨仲弓曰雍虽不敏请事斯语矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zhonggong asked about Goodness.

The Master said, “ ‘When in public, comport yourself as if you were receiving an important guest, and in your management of the common people, behave as if you were overseeing a great sacrifice.’ Do not impose upon others what you yourself do not desire. In this way, you will encounter no resentment in your public or private life.”

Zhonggong replied, “Although I am not quick to understand, I ask permission to devote myself to this teaching.”

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

Zhonggong asked about humaneness. The Master said, When you go out the door, behave as though you were going to meet an important guest. When you employ the common people, do so as though you were conducting an important sacrifice. What you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others. In the domain, let there be no grievances against you; in the family, let there be no grievances against you.

Zhonggong said, Lacking in cleverness though I am, I would like, if I may, to honor these words.

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

Analects 12.1

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Twelve

Original Text:

颜渊问仁子曰克己复礼为仁一日克己复礼天下归仁焉为仁由己而由人乎哉颜渊曰请问其目子曰非礼勿视非礼勿听非礼勿言非礼勿动颜渊曰回虽不敏请事斯语矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Yan Hui asked about Goodness.

The Master said, “Restraining yourself and returning to the rites constitutes Goodness. If for one day you managed to restrain yourself and return to the rites, in this way you could lead the entire world back to Goodness. The key to achieving Goodness lies within yourself—how could it come from others?”

Yan Hui asked, “May I inquire as to the specifics?”

The Master said, “Do not look unless it is in accordance with ritual; do not listen unless it is in accordance with ritual; do not speak unless it is in accordance with ritual; do not move unless it is in accordance with ritual.”

Yan Hui replied, “Although I am not quick to understand, I ask permission to devote myself to this teaching.”

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

Yan Yuan asked about humaneness. The Master said, To master the self and return to ritual is to be humane. For one day master the self and return to ritual, and the whole world will become humane. Being humane proceeds from you yourself. How could it proceed from others?

Yan Yuan said, May I ask how to go about this?

The Master said, If it is contrary to ritual, don’t look at it. If it is contrary to ritual, don’t listen to it. If it is contrary to ritual, don’t utter it. If it is contrary to ritual, don’t do it.

Yan Yuan said, Lacking in cleverness though I am, I would like, if I may, to honor these words.

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