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Analects 19.3

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Original Text:

子夏之门人问交于子张子张曰子夏云何对曰子夏曰可者与之其不可者拒之子张曰异乎吾所闻君子尊贤而容众嘉善而矜不能我之大贤与于人何所不容我之不贤与人将拒我如之何其拒人也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The disciples of Zixia asked Zizhang about social relations.
Zizhang said, “What does Zixia have to say about this?”
They responded, “Zixia says, ‘Associate with those who are acceptable, and reject those who are unacceptable.’ ”
Zizhang said, “This is different from what I have learned. The gentleman treats the worthy people with reverence, and is tolerant of the masses; he praises excellence, but takes pity on those who are incapable. If I am truly a great worthy, what will I not tolerate in my dealings with others? If I am, in fact, unworthy, then people will reject me—what need is there for me to reject them?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

A disciple of Zixia asked Zizhang about personal relations. Zizhang said, What does Zixia say? The disciple replied, Zixia says, Associate with those who are fit to be associated with; reject those who are not.
Zizhang said, That’s different from what I’ve heard. The gentleman honors worthy persons and tolerates the multitude. He applauds good men and sympathizes with those who lack ability. Am I myself a person of great worth? If so, why shouldn’t I tolerate others? Am I a person who lacks worth? If so, others will reject me. What need is there for me to reject others?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 18.6

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Original Text:

长沮桀溺耦而耕孔子过之使子路问津焉长沮曰夫执舆者为谁子路曰为孔丘曰是鲁孔丘与曰是也曰是知津矣问于桀溺桀溺曰子为谁曰为仲由曰是鲁孔丘之徒与对曰然曰滔滔者天下皆是也而谁以易之且而与其从辟人之士也岂若从辟世之士哉耰而不辍子路行以告夫子怃然曰鸟兽不可与同群吾非斯人之徒与而谁与天下有道丘不与易也

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Other Translations:

Confucius passed Chang Ju and Jie Ni, who were yoked together pulling a plow through a field. He sent Zilu to ask them where the ford was to be found.
Chang Ju inquired, “That fellow holding the reins there—who is he?”
Zilu answered, “That is Confucius.”
“Do you mean Confucius of Lu?”
“The same.”
“Then he should know where the ford is.”
Zilu then asked Jie Ni.
Jie Ni also replied with a question: “Who are you?”
“I am Zilu.”
“The disciple of Confucius of Lu?”
“Yes.”
“The whole world is as if engulfed in a great flood, and who can change it? Given this, instead of following a scholar who merely avoids the bad people [of this age], wouldn’t it be better for you to follow scholars like us, who avoid the age itself?” He then proceeded to cover up his seeds with dirt and did not pause again.
Zilu returned and reported this conversation to Confucius. The Master was lost in thought for a moment, and then remarked, “A person cannot flock together with the birds and the beasts. If I do not associate with the followers of men, then with whom would I associate? If the Way were realized in the world, then I would not need to change anything.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Changju and Jieni had teamed up to do the plowing when Confucius passed by. He sent Zilu to ask them where the ford was.
Changju said, Who is that driving the carriage?
That’s Kong Qiu, said Zilu.
Kong Qiu of Lu?
Yes, Zilu replied.
Then he must know where the ford is.
Zilu put the same question to Jieni. Jieni said, Who are you?
I’m Zhongyou (Zilu).
Are you a follower of this Kong Qiu of Lu?
I am, Zilu replied.
Turmoil, turmoil, said Jieni—the whole world’s that way, and who’s going to change it? Rather than following someone who shuns this person or that, wouldn’t it be better to follow one who shuns the world itself? Then he went back to breaking up the clods, never stopping.
Zilu returned and reported this to Confucius, who sighed and said, One cannot simply live with the birds and beasts. If I am not to join with my fellow men, who am I to join with? If the Way prevailed in the world, I would not try to change things.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 17.7

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Original Text:

佛肸召子欲往子路曰昔者由也闻诸夫子曰亲于其身为不善者君子不入也佛肸以中牟畔子之往也如之何子曰然有是言也不曰坚乎磨而不磷不曰白乎涅而不缁吾岂匏瓜也哉焉能系而不食

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Bi Xi summoned Confucius, and the Master was inclined to go.
Zilu said, “In the past, Master, I have heard you say, ‘The gentleman does not enter into association with someone who treats badly those who are close to him.’ Bi Xi is using the city of Zhongmou to stage a rebellion against his superior. How could it be acceptable for you, Master, to go to him?”
The Master replied, “Yes, I have said that. But have I not also said, ‘[A gentleman is] so hard that grinding will not wear him down; so pure that dyeing will not stain him black’? Do you take me to be a bitter gourd, content to merely hang on a string without ever being eaten?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Bi Xi invited the Master to join him, and the Master wanted to go. Zilu said, In the past I have heard you say, When someone is personally doing what is not good, the gentleman will not go near him. Bi Xi has raised a revolt in Zhongmou. What reason could you have to go there?
The Master said, You are right—that’s what I said. But don’t people say, So hard, file it, but it never wears thin? And don’t they say, So white, dirty it, but it never turns black? Am I some sort of bitter melon? Can I go on hanging here and never be eaten?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.21

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Thirteen

Original Text:

子曰不得中行而与之必也狂狷乎狂者进取狷者有所不为也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If you cannot manage to find a person of perfectly balanced conduct to associate with, I suppose you must settle for the wild or the fastidious. In their pursuit of the Way, the wild plunge right in, while the fastidious are always careful not to get their hands dirty.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, If you can’t get someone to work with whose actions follow the mean, then you must choose between the assertive and the cautious. The assertive will forge ahead decisively. The cautious can be trusted to have things that they will not do.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.