Analects - Confucian Pages

Analects 15.31

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Original Text:

子曰吾尝终日不食终夜不寝以思无益不如学也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I once engaged in thought for an entire day without eating and an entire night without sleeping, but it did no good. It would have been better for me to have spent that time in learning.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Once I went all day without eating and all night without sleeping in order to think. It was no use—better to study.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.30

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Original Text:

子曰过而不改是谓过矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “To make a mistake and yet to not change your ways—this is what is called truly making a mistake.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, To make a mistake and not correct it is to make a mistake indeed.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.29

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Original Text:

子曰人能弘道非道弘人

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Human beings can broaden the Way—it is not the Way that broadens human beings.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, A person can enlarge the Way, but the Way cannot enlarge a person.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.28

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Original Text:

子曰众恶之必察焉众好之必察焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “When the multitude hates a person, you must examine them and judge for yourself. The same holds true for someone whom the multitude love.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, When everyone hates someone, look into the matter carefully. When everyone likes someone, look into the matter carefully.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.27

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Original Text:

子曰巧言乱德小不忍则乱大谋

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Clever words confound Virtue, and impatience when it comes to small matters confounds the execution of great plans.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Clever words are the disrupters of virtue. Lack patience in minor matters, and you may disrupt larger schemes.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.26

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Original Text:

子曰吾犹及史之阙文也有马者借人乘之今亡矣夫

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I once knew a time when scribes [who did not know how to write a word] would leave the text blank, and those who owned horses [that they could not tame themselves] would lend them to others. Nowadays, there is no one like this.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, I can still remember when recorders left blanks in their text [when they were unsure of something,] or when people with horses lent them to others to drive. Nowadays such customs are no longer observed, are they?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.25

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Original Text:

子曰吾之于人也谁毁谁誉如有所誉者其有所试矣斯民也三代之所以直道而行也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “When it comes to other people, whom have I condemned? Whom have I praised? If I have praised someone, you can be sure it is because they have been put to the test. The common people today are the same people who allowed the Three Dynasties to put the upright Way into practice.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, In my dealings with others, who have I censured, who have I praised? If I praise someone, it is because he has been put to the test. The common people of today are the ones who carried out the straight Way of the Three Dynasties.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.24

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Original Text:

子贡问曰有一言而可以终身行之者乎子曰其恕乎己所不欲勿施于人

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked, “Is there one word that can serve as a guide for one’s entire life?”
The Master answered, “Is it not ‘understanding’ ? Do not impose upon others what you yourself do not desire.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong asked, Is there a single word that can guide a person’s conduct throughout life?
The Master said, That would be reciprocity, wouldn’t it? What you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.23

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Original Text:

子曰君子不以言举人不以人废言

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman does not promote someone solely based upon their words, nor does he dismiss words simply on account of the person who uttered them.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman does not esteem a person merely because of his words, nor does he disregard words merely because of the person.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.22

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Original Text:

子曰君子矜而不争群而不党

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is proud, but not competitive. He is sociable, but not partisan.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman is proud but not contentious; he joins with others but is not cliquish.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.