Analects – Book Two

Analects 2.4

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Original Text:

子曰吾十有五而志于学三十而立四十而不惑五十而知天命六十而耳顺七十而从心所欲不逾矩

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “At fifteen, I set my mind upon learning;

at thirty, I took my place in society;

at forty, I became free of doubts;

at fifty, I understood Heaven’s Mandate;

at sixty, my ear was attuned;

and at seventy, I could follow my heart’s desires without overstepping the bounds of propriety.”

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

The Master said, At fifteen I set my mind on learning; by thirty I had found my footing; at forty I was free of perplexities; by fifty I understood the will of Heaven; by sixty I learned to give ear to others; by seventy I could follow my heart’s desires without overstepping the line.

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

Analects 2.3

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Original Text:

子曰道之以政齐之以刑民免而无耻道之以德齐之以礼有耻且格

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If you try to guide the common people with coercive regulations and keep them in line with punishments, the common people will become evasive and will have no sense of shame. If, however, you guide them with Virtue, and keep them in line by means of ritual, the people will have a sense of shame and will rectify themselves.”

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

The Master said, Guide them with government orders, regulate them with penalties, and the people will seek to evade the law and be without shame. Guide them with virtue, regulate them with ritual, and they will have a sense of shame and become upright.

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

Analects 2.2

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Original Text:

子曰诗三百一言以蔽之曰思无邪

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The Odes number several hundred, and yet can be judged with a single phrase: ‘Oh, they will not lead you astray'”

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

The Master said, The three hundred poems of the Book of Odes may be summed up in a single phrase: Think nothing base.

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

Analects 2.1

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Original Text:

子曰为政以德譬如北辰居其所而众星共之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “One who rules through the power of Virtue is analogous to the Pole Star: it simply remains in its place and receives the homage of the myriad lesser stars.”

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

The Master said, Conduct government in accordance with virtue, and it will be like the North Star standing in its place, with all the other stars paying court to it.

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