Analects

Analects 8.4

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Original Text:

曾子有疾孟敬子问之曾子言曰鸟之将死其鸣也哀人之将死其言也善君子所贵乎道者三动容貌斯远暴慢矣正颜色斯近信矣出辞气斯远鄙倍矣笾豆之事则有司存

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng was gravely ill, and Meng Jingzi came to inquire about his health.

Master Zeng said to him, “When a bird is about to die, its call is mournful and touching. When a person is about to die, his words should be heeded. There are three things that are important for a gentleman pursuing the Way: by altering his behavioral demeanor, he avoids violence and arrogance; by rectifying his countenance, he welcomes trustworthiness; and in his choice of words and tone of voice, he avoids vulgarity and impropriety. As for the details of handling sacrificial vessels, there are minor officials to deal with that.”

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

When Master Zeng was ill, Meng Jing Zi asked how he was.

Master Zeng spoke these words: When a bird is about to die, its cries are sad. When a man is about to die, his words are good. With regard to the Way, there are three things the gentleman prizes: in his actions and manner, that he be far from harshness or arrogance; in ordering his appearance, that he stick close to trustworthiness; in his utterances, that they be far from crude or unseemly. As for the sacrificial baskets and stands, there are experts to tend to such matters.

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

Analects 8.1

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Original Text:

子曰泰伯其可谓至德也已矣三以天下让民无得而称焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Surely we can say that the Great Uncle possessed ultimate Virtue! He declined rulership of the world three times, and yet remained unpraised because the common people never learned of his actions.”

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

The Master said, Tai Bo may be said to exemplify the highest virtue. Three times he relinquished the right to the empire, but the common people did not understand why this was praiseworthy.

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

Analects 8.3

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Original Text:

曾子有疾召门弟子曰启予足启予手诗云战战兢兢如临深渊如履薄冰而今而后吾知免夫小子

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng was gravely ill and called his disciples to his bedside. “Uncover my feet! Uncover my hands!” he said to them. “The Odes say,

‘Fearful and cautious

As if looking down into a deep abyss

As if treading upon thin ice.’

Only now can I be sure of having made it through safely. Note this, my little ones!”

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

When Master Zeng was ill, he summoned his disciples and said, Uncover my feet, uncover my hands. The Ode says:

Tremble, tremble, be wary

as one on the brink of a deep pool,

as one crossing thin ice—

Now and hereafter I know I have escaped, my little ones—have I not?

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

Analects 8.2

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Original Text:

子曰恭而无礼则劳慎而无礼则葸勇而无礼则乱直而无礼则绞君子笃于亲则民兴于仁故旧不遗则民不偷

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If you are respectful but lack ritual you will become exasperating; if you are careful but lack ritual you will become timid; if you are courageous but lack ritual you will become unruly; and if you are upright but lack ritual you will become inflexible.

“If the gentleman is kind to his relatives, the common people will be inspired toward goodness; if he does not neglect his old acquaintances, the people will honor their obligations to others.”

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

The Master said, Courtesy without ritual becomes labored; caution without ritual becomes timidity; daring without ritual becomes riotousness; directness without ritual becomes obtrusiveness.

If the gentleman treats those close to him with generosity, the common people will be moved to humaneness. If he does not forget his old associates, the common people will shun cold-heartedness.

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

Analects 7.38

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Original Text:

子温而厉威而不猛恭而安

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master was affable yet firm, awe-inspiring without being severe, simultaneously respectful and relaxed.

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

The Master was both mild and sharp-spoken, dignified but not oppressively so, respectful but relaxed.

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

Analects 7.37

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Original Text:

子曰君子坦荡荡小人长戚戚

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is self-possessed and relaxed, while the petty man is perpetually full of worry.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman is composed, at peace with things. The petty man is constantly fretting, fretting.

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

Analects 7.36

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Original Text:

子曰奢则不孙俭则固与其不孙也宁固

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Extravagance leads to presumption, while frugality leads to shabbiness. Compared to presumption, though, shabbiness is to be preferred.”

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

Analects 7.35

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Original Text:

子疾病子路请祷子曰有诸子路对曰有之诔曰祷尔于上下神祇子曰丘之祷久矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master was seriously ill, and Zilu asked permission to offer a prayer.

The Master said, “Is such a thing done?”

Zilu said, “It is. The Eulogy reads, ‘We pray for you above and below, to the spirits of Heaven and of Earth.’ ”

The Master said, “In that case, I have already been offering up my prayers for some time now.”

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

The Master was gravely ill. Zilu asked to be allowed to offer prayers for his recovery. The Master said, Is that done? Zilu replied, Yes. The Eulogies say, Prayers are offered for you to the upper and lower gods and spirits.

The Master said, My praying began a long time ago.

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

Analects 7.34

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Original Text:

子曰若圣与仁则吾岂敢抑为之不厌诲人不倦则可谓云尔已矣公西华曰正唯弟子不能学也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “How could I dare to lay claim to either sageliness or Goodness? What can be said about me is no more than this: I work at it without growing tired and encourage others without growing weary.”

Gong Xihua observed, “This is precisely what we disciples are unable to learn.”

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

The Master said, The title of sage or humane man—how could I dare lay claim to such? But working without tiring, teaching others and never growing weary—yes, that much could be said of me.

Gongxi Hua said, It’s precisely this that we, his disciples, cannot equal him in!

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

Analects 7.33

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Original Text:

子曰文莫吾犹人也躬行君子则吾未之有得

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “There is no one who is my equal when it comes to cultural refinement, but as for actually becoming a gentleman in practice, this is something that I have not yet been able to achieve.”

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

The Master said, In cultural matters I believe I do as well as others. But as for personally enacting the role of the gentleman—that I am not yet up to.

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