Affable - Confucian Pages

Analects 13.28

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Original Text:

子路问曰何如斯可谓之士矣子曰切切偲偲怡怡如也可谓士矣朋友切切偲偲兄弟怡怡

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu asked, “What does a person have to be like to be considered a true scholar-official?”
The Master replied, “He must be earnest and critical, but also affable—earnest and critical with his friends, and affable with his brothers.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zilu asked, How should one conduct himself in order to be called a man of station?
The Master said, Earnest, exacting, but also harmonious—that would qualify you to be called a man of station. With friends, earnest, exacting. With elder and younger brothers, harmonious.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Other Translations:

At court, when speaking with officers of lower rank, he was pleasant and affable; when speaking with officers of upper rank, he was formal and proper. When his lord was present, he combined an attitude of cautious respect with graceful ease.

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

At the morning audience, he talked with the lesser officials in a relaxed and affable way, and talked with the higher officials in a respectful manner. When the ruler made his appearance, Confucius assumed a reverential attitude, but one free of constraint.

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