Analects

Analects 7.22

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Original Text:

子曰三人行必有我师焉择其善者而从之其不善者而改之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “When walking with two other people, I will always find a teacher among them. I focus on those who are good and seek to emulate them, and focus on those who are bad in order to be reminded of what needs to be changed in myself.”

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

The Master said, When I walk with two others, I’m bound to find my teacher there. I single out their good points and pursue them, note their bad points and make my corrections.

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

Analects 7.21

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Original Text:

子不语怪力乱神

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master did not discuss prodigies, feats of strength, disorderly conduct, or the supernatural.

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

Subjects the Master did not discuss: strange occurrences, feats of strength, rebellion, the gods.

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

Analects 7.20

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Original Text:

子曰我非生而知之者好古敏以求之者也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I am not someone who was born with knowledge. I simply love antiquity, and diligently look there for knowledge.”

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

The Master said, I was not born understanding anything. A lover of antiquity, I have diligently worked to acquire understanding.

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

Analects 7.19

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Original Text:

叶公问孔子于子路子路不对子曰女奚不曰其为人也发愤忘食乐以忘忧不知老之将至云尔

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Duke of She asked Zilu about Confucius. Zilu had no reply.

[Upon Zilu’s return], the Master said, “Why did you not just say: ‘He is the type of person who is so passionate that he forgets to eat, whose joy renders him free of worries, and who grows old without noticing the passage of the years.’ ”

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

The lord of She asked Zilu about Confucius, but Zilu did not reply.

The Master said, Why didn’t you tell him that he’s the kind of person who in bursts of enthusiasm forgets to eat, in his delight forgets to worry, and doesn’t even realize that old age is coming on?

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

Analects 7.18

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Original Text:

子所雅言诗书执礼皆雅言也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master used the classical pronunciation when reciting the Odes and the History, and when conducting ritual. In all of these cases, he used the classical pronunciation.

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

The Master used the correct pronunciations when speaking of the Odes and Documents or the conduct of rituals. On all such occasions, he used the correct pronunciations.

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

Analects 7.17

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Original Text:

子曰加我数年五十以学易可以无大过矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If I were granted many more years, and could devote fifty of them to learning, surely I would be able to be free of major faults.”

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

The Master said, Give me a few more years—if I have fifty years to study, then perhaps I, too, can avoid any great errors.

[Or, according to the more widely accepted Ku text:] if I have fifty years to study the Book of Changes, then perhaps I, too, can avoid any great errors.

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

Analects 7.16

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Original Text:

子曰饭疏食饮水曲肱而枕之乐亦在其中矣不义而富且贵于我如浮云

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Eating plain food and drinking water, having only your bent arm as a pillow—certainly there is joy to be found in this! Wealth and eminence attained improperly concern me no more than the floating clouds.”

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

The Master said, Eating simple food, drinking water, a bended arm for a pillow—there’s happiness in these things too. Wealth and eminence gained by unrightful means are to me mere drifting clouds.

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

Analects 7.15

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Original Text:

冉有曰夫子为卫君乎子贡曰诺吾将问之入曰伯夷叔齐何人也曰古之贤人也曰怨乎曰求仁而得仁又何怨出曰夫子不为也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ran Qiu was wondering out loud, “Does the Master support the Duke of Wei?”

Zigong replied, “Well, I will go ask him.”

He went in to see the Master, and said, “What sort of people were Bo Yi and Shu Qi?”

The Master replied, “They were ancient worthies.”

“Did they harbor any regrets?”

“They pursued Goodness and attained Goodness, what regrets could they possible have?”

Zigong emerged and reported to the other disciples, “The Master does not support him.”

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

Ran You said, Will our Master side with the ruler of Wei? Zigong said, Very well, I’ll go and ask him.

Entering the Master’s room, Zigong said, What sort of men were Bo Yi and Shu Qi?

The Master said, Worthy men of antiquity.

Did they harbor rancor?

They sought to behave humanely, and they succeeded in doing so. Why would they harbor rancor?

When Zigong emerged from the room, he said, Our Master will not side with the ruler of Wei.

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

Analects 7.14

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Original Text:

子在齐闻韶三月不知肉味曰不图为乐之至于斯也

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Master was in the state of Qi, he heard the Shao music, and for three months after did not even notice the taste of meat. He said, “I never imagined that music could be so sublime.”

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

When the Master was in Qi, he heard the Shao music and for three months no longer knew what sort of meat he was eating. He said, I never supposed that music could reach such heights!

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

Analects 7.13

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Original Text:

子之所慎齐战疾

Translation:

Other Translations:

When it came to fasting, war, and illness, the Master exercised caution.

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

The Master exercised great care with regard to the following: preparations for a sacrifice, warfare, and illness.

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