Analects - Confucian Pages

Analects 6.2

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Original Text:

仲弓问子桑伯子子曰可也简仲弓曰居敬而行简以临其民不亦可乎居简而行简无乃大简乎子曰雍之言然

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zhonggong asked about Zisang Bozi.
The Master replied, “He is simple, and therefore acceptable.”
Zhonggong said, “To watch over the people by occupying one’s position with respect and being simple in one’s conduct—this is no doubt acceptable. To occupy one’s position with simplicity and also to be simple in one’s conduct, however, seems to me to be taking simplicity too far.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zhonggong asked about Zisang Bozi. The Master said, He will do—he’s lenient in nature.
Zhonggong said, If he is strict with himself but lenient when it comes to overseeing the common people, will that be all right? If one is lenient with himself and behaves toward others in a lenient manner, that’s too much leniency, isn’t it?
The Master said, What you say is correct.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.1

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Original Text:

子曰雍也可使南面子曰雍也可使南面

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Zhonggong can be given a position facing south.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Yong (Zhonggong Ran Yong) could be given a seat facing south.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.28

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Original Text:

子曰十室之邑必有忠信如丘者焉不如丘之好学也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “In any village of ten households there are surely those who are as dutiful or trustworthy as I am, but there is no one who matches my love for learning.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, In a village of ten households there are certain to be those who are as loyal and trustworthy as I am, but none my equal in love of learning!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.27

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Original Text:

子曰已矣乎吾未见能见其过而内自讼者也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I should just give up! I have yet to meet someone who is able to perceive his own faults and then take himself to task inwardly.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, It’s hopeless! I have yet to see anyone who can recognize his faults, look inside himself, and put the blame there.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.26

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Original Text:

颜渊季路侍子曰盍各言尔志子路曰愿车马衣轻裘与朋友共敝之而无憾颜渊曰愿无伐善无施劳子路曰愿闻子之志子曰老者安之朋友信之少者怀之

Translation:

Other Translations:

Yan Hui and Zilu were in attendance. The Master said to them, “Why do you not each speak to me of your aspirations?”
Zilu answered, “I would like to be able to share my carts and horses, clothing and fur with my fellow students and friends, without feeling regret.”
Yan Hui answered, “I would like to avoid being boastful about my own abilities or exaggerating my accomplishments.”
Zilu then said, “I would like to hear of the Master’s aspirations.”
The Master said, “To bring comfort to the aged, to inspire trust in my friends, and be cherished by the youth.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Once, when Yan Yuan and Zilu were accompanying him, the Master said, Why don’t each of you speak of your desires?
Zilu said, I wish that I and my friends could share the same carriages and horses, robes and furs, and never worry if we wore them out.
Yan Yuan said, I would like never to boast of what good points I have and never cause trouble to others.
Zilu said, I would like to hear the Master’s desires.
The Master said, To free old people from worry, to be trustworthy toward my friends, and at all times solicitous of the young.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.25

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Original Text:

子曰巧言令色足恭左丘明耻之丘亦耻之匿怨而友其人左丘明耻之丘亦耻之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Clever words, an ingratiating countenance, and perfunctory gestures of respect are all things that Zuoqiu Ming considered shameful, and I, too, consider them shameful. Concealing one’s resentment and feigning friendship toward another is something Zuoqiu considered shameful, and I, too, consider it shameful.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Clever words, a pleasing countenance, politeness overdone—Zuoqiu Ming would be ashamed of such, and I would be ashamed too. To hide your distaste for someone and become that person’s friend—Zuoqiu Ming would be ashamed of that, and I would be ashamed too.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.24

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Original Text:

子曰孰谓微生高直或乞醯焉乞诸其邻而与之

Translation:

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The Master said, “Who says that Weisheng Gao was upright? If someone asked him for vinegar, he would beg some from his neighbors and present it as his own.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Who claims that Weisheng Gao was honest? When someone came to borrow vinegar from him, he borrowed some from a neighbor and then gave it to the person.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.23

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Original Text:

子曰伯夷叔齐不念旧恶怨是用希

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Bo Yi and Shu Qi did not harbor grudges. For this reason, they aroused little resentment.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Bo Yi and Shu Qi did not dwell on old wrongs—so they had few feelings of rancor.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.22

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Original Text:

子在陈曰归与归与吾党之小子狂简斐然成章不知所以裁之

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Master was in the state of Chen, he sighed, “Oh, let us go home! Let us go home! Our young followers back in Lu are wild and ambitious—they put on a great show of brilliant culture, but they lack the means to prune and shape it.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When the Master was in Chen, he said, Let’s go home, let’s go home! The young people of our district are in high spirits but hasty. The cloth has been handsomely woven, but no one knows how to cut it.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.21

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Original Text:

子曰宁武子邦有道则知邦无道则愚其知可及也其愚不可及也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “When the Way was being practiced in his state, Ning Wuzi was wise, but when the Way was not being practiced, he was stupid. His wisdom can be equaled, but no one can equal his stupidity.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, In the case of Ning Wu Zi, when the Way prevailed in the state, he was wise. When the Way did not prevail in the state, he was stupid. His wisdom can be equaled, but not his stupidity.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.