子曰不在其位不谋其政
The Master said, “Do not discuss matters of government policy that do not fall within the scope of your official duties.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, If one does not hold the position, one does not dictate the policies that go with it.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰笃信好学守死善道危邦不入乱邦不居天下有道则见无道则隐邦有道贫且贱焉耻也邦无道富且贵焉耻也
The Master said, “Be sincerely trustworthy and love learning, and hold fast to the good Way until death. Do not enter a state that is endangered, and do not reside in a state that is disordered. If the Way is being realized in the world then show yourself; if it is not, then go into reclusion. In a state that has the Way, to be poor and of low status is a cause for shame; in a state that is without the Way, to be wealthy and honored is equally a cause for shame.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Entirely trustworthy, a lover of learning, faithful until death, exemplar of the Way, he never enters a state where there is peril, never remains in a state where there is disorder. When the Way prevails in the world, he appears; when the Way is lacking, he retires. When the state follows the Way, being poor and lowly is a cause for shame. When the state is without the Way, being rich and eminent is a cause for shame.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰三年学不至于谷不易得也
The Master said, “It is not easy to find someone who is able to learn for even the space of three years without a thought given to official salary.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Someone who can study for three years without thinking about an official salary—not easy to find!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰如有周公之才之美使骄且吝其余不足观也已
The Master said, “If a person has talents as fine as the Duke of Zhou, but is arrogant and mean-spirited, the rest of his qualities are not worth notice.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Although one may have talents as admirable as those of the duke of Zhou, if he employs them in an arrogant or a mean manner, then whatever other qualities he has are not worth a look!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰好勇疾贫乱也人而不仁疾之已甚乱也
The Master said, “A person who is fond of courage but who despises poverty will become rebellious. A person who is not Good, and who is excessively criticized for it, will also become rebellious.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Where there is love of daring and hatred of poverty, disorder will result. And if people lack humaneness and their hatred is extreme, disorder will result.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰民可使由之不可使知之
The Master said, “The common people can be made to follow it, but they cannot be made to understand it.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, The common people can be made to follow a course, but cannot be made to understand why they should do so.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰兴于诗立于礼成于乐
The Master said, “Find inspiration in the Odes, take your place through ritual, and achieve perfection with music.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Get your start with the Odes; acquire a firm standing through ritual; complete the process with music.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
曾子曰士不可以不弘毅任重而道远仁以为己任不亦重乎死而后已不亦远乎
Master Zeng said, “A scholar-official must be strong and resolute, for his burden is heavy and his way is long. He takes up Goodness as his own personal burden—is it not heavy? His way ends only with death—is it not long?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Master Zeng said, The man of station must be both broad-minded and resolute. His burden is heavy, and the road is long. Humaneness is the burden he is charged with—heavy, is it not? The road ends only with death—long, is it not?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
曾子曰可以托六尺之孤可以寄百里之命临大节而不可夺也君子人与君子人也
Master Zeng said, “Consider someone who can both be entrusted with the care of a young orphan and charged with the command a hundred-square-li state, and who can be confronted with great challenges without being shaken. Is this not the gentleman? Yes, this is the gentleman.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Master Zeng said, Trust him as guardian to a six-foot orphan, charge him with the command of a hundred-league domain, he will preside over the most critical occasions and can never be diverted from his course. This is the gentleman, is it not? This is the gentleman.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
曾子曰以能问于不能以多问于寡有若无实若虚犯而不校昔者吾友尝从事于斯矣
Master Zeng said, “Able, and yet asking questions about abilities that one does not possess; using what one has much of in order to ask about what one lacks; having, yet seeming to lack; full, yet seeming empty; offended against, and yet feeling no need to retaliate. I once had a friend who was like this.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Master Zeng said, Able but consulting those who lack ability, of many talents but consulting those with few, possessing but seeming to be without, full yet seeming to be empty, offended against but never retaliating—in the past I had a friend who always tried to be like that.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
