子曰其言之不怍则为之也难
The Master said, “If you are shameless in what you propose, you may then find it difficult to put your words into practice.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, He who speaks irresponsibly will find it hard to put his words into action.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰邦有道危言危行邦无道危行言孙
The Master said, “When the state possesses the Way, be audaciously correct in both word and action; when the state lacks the Way, be audaciously correct in action, but let one’s speech be conciliatory.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, When a state follows the Way, be stern in speech, stern in action. When a state is without the Way, be stern in action but conciliatory in speech.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
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
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.
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
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.
子张学干禄子曰多闻阙疑慎言其余则寡尤多见阙殆慎行其余则寡悔言寡尤行寡悔禄在其中矣
Zizhang asked about obtaining official position.
Confucius said, “If you first learn as much as you can, then guard against that which is dubious and speak carefully about the rest, you will seldom speak in error. If you first observe as much as you can, then guard against that which is perilous and carefully put the rest into action, you will seldom have cause for regret. If in your speech you seldom err, and in your behavior you seldom have cause for regret, an official position will follow naturally.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Zizhang was studying to gain an official position. The Master said, Hear much, put aside what’s doubtful, and in your speech apply the rest with caution – then you’ll make few mistakes. Observe much, put aside what’s suspicious, and in your actions apply the rest with caution – then you’ll have little to regret. Making few mistakes, having little to regret – the way to official position lies in this.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
