Act

Analects 15.6

Original Text:

子张问行子曰言忠信行笃敬虽蛮貊之邦行矣言不忠信行不笃敬虽州里行乎哉立则见其参于前也在舆则见其倚于衡也夫然后行子张书诸绅

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zizhang asked about getting by in the world.

The Master replied, “In your speech, be dutiful and trustworthy, and in your conduct be sincere and respectful. In this way, you will always get by in the world, even if you find yourself in some barbarian state. If your words are not dutiful and trustworthy, and your conduct is not sincere and respectful, how can you possibly get along, even in your own region? When standing still, visualize these principles standing by your side; when riding in your carriage, see them resting before you on the crossbar. Only then will you get by in the world.”

Zizhang then wrote these words on the end of his sash.

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

Zizhang asked about how to get along in the world. The Master said, If your words are loyal and trustworthy and your actions sincere and respectful, then even in the lands of the Man and Mo tribes you will get along. But if your words are not loyal and trustworthy and your actions not sincere and respectful, then even in your own district or village you won’t get along, will you? When you stand up, see these words plainly before you; when riding in your carriage, see them resting on the crossbar. Act in this way and then you will get along.

Zizhang wrote this down on his sash.

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

Analects 11.22

Original Text:

子路问闻斯行诸子曰有父兄在如之何其闻斯行之冉有问闻斯行诸子曰闻斯行之公西华曰由也问闻斯行诸子曰有父兄在’求也问闻斯行诸子曰‘闻斯行之赤也惑敢问子曰求也退故进之由也兼人故退之

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu asked, “Upon learning of something that needs to be done, should one immediately take care of it?”

The Master replied, “As long as one’s father and elder brothers are still alive, how could one possibly take care of it immediately?”

[On a later occasion] Ran Qiu asked, “Upon learning of something that needs to be done, should one immediately take care of it?”

The Master replied, “Upon learning of it, you should immediately take care of it.”

Zihua, [having observed both exchanges], inquired, “When Zilu asked you whether or not one should immediately take care of something upon learning of it, you told him one should not, as long as one’s father and elder brothers were still alive. When Ran Qiu asked the same question, however, you told him that one should immediately take care of it. I am confused, and humbly ask to have this explained to me.”

The Master said, “Ran Qiu is overly cautious, and so I wished to urge him on. Zilu, on the other hand, is too impetuous, and so I sought to hold him back.”

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

Zilu asked, When I hear something, should I proceed to put it into action?

The Master said, While your father and elder brothers are alive, how can you hear something and immediately put it into action?

Ran You asked, When I hear something, should I proceed to put it into action?

The Master said, When you hear it, then act on it.

Gongxi Hua said, When You asked if, when I hear something, I should put it into action, you, Master, said, Your father and elder brothers are still alive. But when Qiu (Ran You) asked if, when I hear something, I should put it into action, you said, When you hear it, put it into action. I’m confused—may I venture to ask for an explanation?

The Master said, Qiu is timid—so I urged him on. You always tries to outdo others—so I restrained him.

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

Analects 5.20

Original Text:

季文子三思而后行子闻之曰再斯可矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ji Wenzi always reflected three times before acting. The Master, hearing of this, remarked, “Twice would have been enough.”

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

Ji Wen Zi thought three times before he acted. When the Master heard of this, he said, Twice is enough.

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

Analects 5.10

Original Text:

宰予昼寝子曰朽木不可雕也粪土之墙不可杇也于予与何诛子曰始吾于人也听其言而信其行今吾于人也听其言而观其行于予与改是

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zai Wo was sleeping during the daytime. The Master said, “Rotten wood cannot be carved, and a wall of dung cannot be plastered. As for Zai Wo, what would be the use of reprimanding him?”

The Master added, “At first, when evaluating people, I would listen to their words and then simply trust that the corresponding conduct would follow. Now when I evaluate people I listen to their words but then closely observe their conduct. It is my experience with Zai Wo that has brought about this change.”

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

Zai Yu (Zai Wo) was given to sleeping in the daytime. The Master said, Rotten wood can’t be carved; a wall of stinking earth can’t be troweled. What’s the use of trying to reprimand Yu?

The Master said, At first, when it came to people, I listened to their words and trusted their conduct. Now, when it comes to people, I listen to their words and observe their conduct. It was Yu who brought about this change.

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

Analects 4.24

Original Text:

子曰君子欲讷于言而敏于行

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman wishes to be slow to speak, but quick to act.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman desires to be hesitant in speech but prompt in action.

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

Analects 4.22

Original Text:

子曰古者言之不出耻躬之不逮也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “People in ancient times were not eager to speak, because they would be ashamed if their actions did not measure up to their words.”

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

The Master said, People in old times were sparing in their words. They were ashamed to think that their actions might not measure up.

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