子曰攻乎异端斯害也已
The Master said, “Working from the wrong starting point will lead to nothing but harm.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, To delve into strange doctrines can bring only harm.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰学而不思则罔思而不学则殆
The Master said, “If you learn without thinking about what you have learned, you will be lost. If you think without learning, however, you will fall into danger.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Learning without thought is pointless. Thought without learning is dangerous.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰君子周而不比小人比而不周
The Master said, “The gentleman is broad and not partial; the petty person is partial and not broad.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, The gentleman is fair-minded and not partisan. The petty man is partisan and not fair-minded.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子贡问君子子曰先行其言而后从之
Zigong asked about the gentleman.
The Master said, “He first expresses his views, and then acts in accordance with them.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zigong asked about the gentleman. The Master said, First he puts his words into action. Only later does he follow up with explanations.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰君子不器
The Master said, “The gentleman is not a vessel.“
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, The gentleman is not a utensil.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰温故而知新可以为师矣
The Master said, “Both keeping past teachings alive and understanding the present – someone able to do this is worthy of being a teacher.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Be thoroughly versed in the old, and understand the new – then you can be a teacher.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰视其所以观其所由察其所安人焉廋哉人焉廋哉
The Master said, “Look at the means a man employs, observe the basis from which he acts, and discover where it is that he feels at ease. Where can he hide? Where can he hide?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Watch what he does, observe the path he follows, examine where he comes to rest – can any person then remain a mystery? Can any person remain a mystery?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰吾与回言终日不违如愚退而省其私亦足以发回也不愚
The Master said, “I can talk all day long with Yan Hui without him once disagreeing with me. In this way, he seems a bit stupid. And yet when we retire and I observe his private behavior, I see that it is in fact worthy to serve as an illustration of what I have taught. Hui is not stupid at all.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, I talk a whole day with Hui, and he never disagrees with me, as though he were stupid. But later, when I examine his private conduct, I see that it fully exemplifies my ideas. No, Hui is not stupid.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子夏问孝子曰色难有事弟子服其劳有酒食先生馔曾是以为孝乎
Zixia asked about filial piety. The Master said, “It is the demeanor that is difficult. If there is work to be done, disciples shoulder the burden, and when wine and food are served, elders are given precedence, but surely filial piety consists of more than this.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zixia asked about filial devotion. The Master said, The difficult part is the facial expression. As for young people taking on the heavy work when there’s something to be done, or older people going first when there’s wine and food – can this be called filial devotion?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子游问孝子曰今之孝者是谓能养至于犬马皆能有养不敬何以别乎
Ziyou asked about filial piety. The Master said, “Nowadays ‘filial’ means simply being able to provide one’s parents with nourishment. But even dogs and horses are provided with nourishment. If you are not respectful, wherein lies the difference?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Ziyou asked about filial devotion. The Master said, Nowadays it’s taken to mean just seeing that one’s parents get enough to eat. But we do that much for dogs or horses as well. If there is no reverence, how is it any different?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
