Aspire

Original Text:

颜渊季路侍子曰盍各言尔志子路曰愿车马衣轻裘与朋友共敝之而无憾颜渊曰愿无伐善无施劳子路曰愿闻子之志子曰老者安之朋友信之少者怀之

Translation:

Other Translations:

Yan Hui and Zilu were in attendance. The Master said to them, “Why do you not each speak to me of your aspirations?”

Zilu answered, “I would like to be able to share my carts and horses, clothing and fur with my fellow students and friends, without feeling regret.”

Yan Hui answered, “I would like to avoid being boastful about my own abilities or exaggerating my accomplishments.”

Zilu then said, “I would like to hear of the Master’s aspirations.”

The Master said, “To bring comfort to the aged, to inspire trust in my friends, and be cherished by the youth.”

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

Once, when Yan Yuan and Zilu were accompanying him, the Master said, Why don’t each of you speak of your desires?

Zilu said, I wish that I and my friends could share the same carriages and horses, robes and furs, and never worry if we wore them out.

Yan Yuan said, I would like never to boast of what good points I have and never cause trouble to others.

Zilu said, I would like to hear the Master’s desires.

The Master said, To free old people from worry, to be trustworthy toward my friends, and at all times solicitous of the young.

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