Analects - Confucian Pages

Analects 13.25

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Original Text:

子曰君子易事而难说也说之不以道不说也及其使人也器之小人难事而易说也说之虽不以道说也及其使人也求备焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is easy to serve, but hard to please. If you attempt to please him in a manner not in accordance with the Way, he will not be pleased, but when he employs others, he does so in consideration of their particular capacities. The petty person is hard to serve, but easy to please. If you attempt to please him, he will be pleased, even if it is in a manner not in accordance with the Way, but when it comes to his employment of others, he demands everything from them.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman is easy to serve but hard to please. Try to please him with what does not accord with the Way, and he will not be pleased. But when he employs others, he thinks of their particular capabilities.
The petty man is hard to serve but easy to please. Try pleasing him with what does not accord with the Way, and he will be pleased. But when he employs others, he expects them to be able to do anything.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.24

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Original Text:

子贡问曰乡人皆好之何如子曰未可也乡人皆恶之何如子曰未可也不如乡人之善者好之其不善者恶之

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked, “What would you make of a person whom everyone in the village likes?”
The Master said, “I would not know what to make of him.”
“What about someone whom everyone in the village hates?”
“I would still not know. Better this way: those in the village who are good like him, and those who are not good hate him.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong asked, If everyone in the village liked him, how would that do?
The Master said, Not good enough.
If everyone in the village hated him, how would that do?
The Master said, Not good enough. Better if the good people in the village liked him, and the not-good people hated him
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.23

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Original Text:

子曰君子和而不同小人同而不和

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman harmonizes, and does not merely agree. The petty person agrees, but he does not harmonize.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman acts in harmony with others but does not ape them. The petty man apes others but is not in harmony with them.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.22

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Original Text:

子曰南人有言曰人而无恒不可以作巫医善夫不恒其德或承之羞子曰不占而已矣

Translation:

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The Master said, “The Southerners have a saying, ‘The fate of a person who lacks constancy cannot be diagnosed by the shaman-healers.’ How well put!”
[It is also said,] “One inconstant in Virtue will probably incur disgrace.” The Master commented, “It simply cannot be foretold through divination.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Southerners have a saying: If a person lacks constancy, he cannot become a shaman or a doctor. Well put, is it not? Someone not constant in virtue is likely to suffer disgrace.
And the Master said, No need to consult a diviner to know that much!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.21

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Original Text:

子曰不得中行而与之必也狂狷乎狂者进取狷者有所不为也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If you cannot manage to find a person of perfectly balanced conduct to associate with, I suppose you must settle for the wild or the fastidious. In their pursuit of the Way, the wild plunge right in, while the fastidious are always careful not to get their hands dirty.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, If you can’t get someone to work with whose actions follow the mean, then you must choose between the assertive and the cautious. The assertive will forge ahead decisively. The cautious can be trusted to have things that they will not do.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

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

Translation:

Other Translations:

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

Translation:

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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

Translation:

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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

Translation:

Other Translations:

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

Translation:

Other Translations:

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.