Analects

Analects 1.12

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Original Text:

有子曰礼之用和为贵先王之道斯为美小大由之有所不行知和而和不以礼节之亦不可行也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master You said, “When it comes to the practice of ritual, it is harmonious ease that is to be valued. It is precisely such harmony that makes the Way of the Former Kings so beautiful. If you merely stick rigidly to ritual in all matters, great and small, there will remain that which you cannot accomplish. Yet if you know enough to value harmonious ease but try to attain it without being regulated by the rites, this will not work either.”

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

Master You said, What ritual values most is harmony. The Way of the former kings was truly admirable in this respect. But if in matters great and small one proceeds in this manner, the results may not always be satisfactory. You may understand the ideal of harmony and work for it, but if you do not employ ritual to regulate the proceedings, things will not go well.

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

Analects 1.11

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Original Text:

子曰父在观其志父没观其行三年无改于父之道可谓孝矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “When someone’s father is still alive, observe his intentions; after his father has passed away, observe his conduct. If for three years he does not alter the ways of his father, he may be called a filial son.”

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

The Master said, While his father is alive, observe his intentions. After his father is dead, observe his actions. If after three years he hasn’t changed his father’s way of doing thing, then you can call him filial.

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

Analects 1.10

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Original Text:

子禽问于子贡曰夫子至于是邦也必闻其政求之与抑与之与子贡曰夫子温良恭俭让以得之夫子之求之也其诸异乎人之求之与

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ziqin asked Zigong, “When our Master arrives in a state, he invariably finds out about its government. Does he actively seek out this information? Surely it is not simply offered to him!”

Zigong answered, “Out Master obtains it through being courteous, refined, respectful, restrained and deferential. The Master’s way of seeking it is entirely different from other people’s way of seeking it, is it not?

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

Ziqin questioned Zigong, saying, When the Maaster goes to a particular state, he is certain to learn about its government. Does he seek such information? Or do others just give it to him?

Zigong said, The Master goes about it by being cordial, forthright, respectful, modest, and deferential. The Master’s way of seeking is different from that of others.

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

Analects 1.9

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Original Text:

曾子曰慎终追远民德归厚矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “Take great care in seeing off the deceased and sedulously maintain the sacrifices to your distant ancestors, and the common people will sincerely return to Virtue.”

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

Master Zeng said, Tend carefully to death rites, and pay reverence to those long departed, and the people will in the end be rich in virtue.

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

Analects 1.8

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Original Text:

子曰君子不重则不威学则不固主忠信无友不如己者过则勿惮改

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If a gentleman is not serious, he will not inspire awe, and what he learns will be grasped only superficially. Let your actions be governed by dutifulness and trustworthiness, and do not accept as a friend who is not your equal. If you have committed a transgression, do not be afraid to change your ways.

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

The Master said, If the gentleman lacks gravity, he won’t command respect. If he studies he will avoid narrow-mindedness. Put prime value on loyalty and trustworthiness, have no friends who are not your equal, and, if you make mistakes, don’t be afraid to correct them.

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

Analects 1.7

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Original Text:

子夏曰贤贤易色事父母能竭其力事君能致其身与朋友交言而有信虽曰未学吾必谓之学矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia said, “Imagine someone who recognizes and admires worthiness and therefore changes his lustful nature, who is able to fully exhaust his strength in serving his parents and extend himself to the utmost in serving his lord, and who is trustworthy in speech when interacting with friends and associates. Even if you said of such a person ‘Oh, but he is not learned,’ I would still insist that it is precisely such qualities that make on worthy of being called ‘learned.'”

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

Zixia said, If he treats worthy persons as worthy and is respectful to them, does all in his power to serve his father and mother, gives his best in the service of the ruler, and in dealings with friends is faithful to his word, though some may say he lacks learning, I would surely call him learned!

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

Analects 1.6

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Original Text:

子曰弟子入则孝出则弟谨而信泛爱众而亲仁行有余力则以学文

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “A young person should be filial when at home and respectful of his elders when in public. Conscientious and trustworthy, he should display a general care for the masses but feel a particular affection for those who are Good. If he has any strength left over after manifesting the virtues in practice, let him devote it to learning the cultural arts.”

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

The Master said, Young people should be filial at home, brotherly with others, circumspect, and trustworthy. Let them act kindly toward the populace in general and befriend those of humane character. If, after that, they have energy left over, let them study the arts.

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

Analects 1.5

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Original Text:

子曰道千乘之国敬事而信节用而爱人使民以时

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “To guide a state of one thousand chariots, be respectful in your handing of affairs and display trustworthiness; be frugal in your expenditures and cherish others; and employ the common people only at the proper times.”

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

The Master said, Guiding a state of a thousand chariots, be attentive to affairs and trustworthy, frugal in expenditures and sparing of others. Employ the common people only at proper times.

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

Analects 1.4

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Original Text

曾子曰吾日三省吾身为人谋而不忠乎与朋友交而不信乎传不习乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “Every day I examine myself on three counts: in my dealings with others, have I in any way failed to be dutiful? In my interactions with friends and associates, have I in any way failed to be trustworthy? Finally, have I in any way failed to repeatedly put into practice what I teach?”

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

Master Zeng said, Each day I examine myself on three matters. In making plans for others, am I being loyal to them? In my dealings with friends, am I being trustworthy? Am I passing on to others what I have not carefully thought about myself?

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

Analects 1.3

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Original Text:

子曰巧言令色鲜矣仁

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “A clever tongue and fine appearance are rarely signs of Goodness”

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

The Master said, Clever words and a pleasing countenance – little humaneness there!

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