Common People

Analects 19.10

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nineteen

Original Text:

子夏曰君子信而后劳其民未信则以为厉己也信而后谏未信则以为谤己也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia said, “The gentleman imposes labors upon his people only after earning their trust. If he does so before having earned their trust, they will think him cruel. The gentleman remonstrates with [his ruler] only after earning his trust. If he does so before having earned his trust, his ruler will think him insolent.”

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

Zixia said, The gentleman must be trusted before he can demand labor from the common people. If he is not trusted, they will think he is being harsh with them. He must be trusted before he can remonstrate [with his superiors]. If he is not trusted, they will think he is speaking ill of them.

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

Analects 17.23

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Original Text:

子路曰君子尚勇乎子曰君子义以为上君子有勇而无义为乱小人有勇而无义为盗

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu asked, “Does the gentleman admire courage?”

The Master said, “The gentleman admires rightness above all. A gentleman who possessed courage but lacked a sense of rightness would create political disorder, while a common person who possessed courage but lacked a sense of rightness would become a bandit.”

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

Zilu said, Does the gentleman esteem courage? The Master said, The gentleman holds rightness in highest esteem. A gentleman who possesses courage but lacks rightness will become rebellious. A petty man who possesses courage but lacks rightness will turn to thievery.

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

Analects 17.16

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Original Text:

子曰古者民有三疾今也或是之亡也古之狂也肆今之狂也荡古之矜也廉今之矜也忿戾古之愚也直今之愚也诈而已矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “In ancient times, people had three type of faults, which have perhaps since disappeared. In ancient times, those who were wild were at least forthright; nowadays, they are simply deviant. In ancient times, those who were proud were at least principled; nowadays, they are simply belligerent and easily provoked. In ancient times, those who were stupid were at least upright; nowadays, they are simply devious.”

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

The Master said, In former times the common people had three weaknesses, but now even these seem to have largely disappeared. Assertive persons in the past were reckless; now they are downright overbearing. Firm-minded persons in the past were prudish; now they are testy and belligerent. Stupid persons in the past were at least upright; now all they do is try to deceive others.

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

Analects 16.12

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Original Text:

齐景公有马千驷死之日民无德而称焉伯夷叔齐饿于首阳之下民到于今称之其斯之谓与

Translation:

Other Translations:

“ ‘Duke Jing of Qi had a thousand teams of horses, and yet on the day he died, the people could find no reason to praise him. Bo Yi and Shu Qi starved to death at the foot of Mt. Shouyang, and yet to this day the common people still praise them.’ ”

“Is this not an example of this?”

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

Duke Jing of Qi had a thousand teams of four horses, but the day he died, the common people of Qi could think of no bounty to praise him for. Bo Yi and Shu Qi died of hunger on Mount Shou-yang, yet to this day the common people praise them. This is what the saying means.

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

Analects 15.33

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Original Text:

子曰知及之仁不能守之虽得之必失之知及之仁能守之不庄以涖之则民不敬知及之仁能守之庄以涖之动之不以礼未善也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If your wisdom reaches it, but your Goodness cannot protect it, then even though you may have attained it, you are sure to eventually lose it. If your wisdom reaches it, and your Goodness is able to protect it, but you cannot manifest it with dignity, then the common people will not be respectful. If your wisdom reaches it, your Goodness is able to protect it, and you can manifest it with dignity, but you do not use ritual to put it into motion, it will never be truly excellent.”

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

The Master said, You might have sufficient knowledge to gain a position, but if you do not have the humaneness needed to hold on to it, then although you gain it, you will surely lose it. You might have sufficient knowledge to gain a position and the humaneness needed to hold on to it, but if you do not administer it with dignity, the common people will not respect you. You might have sufficient knowledge to gain a position, the humaneness needed to hold on to it, and may administer it with dignity, but if your actions do not accord with ritual, the results will be less than good.

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

Analects 14.41

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Original Text:

子曰上好礼则民易使也

Translation:

Other Translations:

he Master said, “If those above love ritual, then the common people will be easy to manage.”

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

The Master said, If those in high positions love ritual, the common people will be easy to employ.

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

Analects 13.29

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Original Text:

子曰善人教民七年亦可以即戎矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Having been instructed by an excellent person for seven years, the common people will be ready for anything, even the taking up of arms.”

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

The Master said, Let a good man instruct them for seven years, and the common people will be capable of military service.

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

Analects 8.1

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰泰伯其可谓至德也已矣三以天下让民无得而称焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Surely we can say that the Great Uncle possessed ultimate Virtue! He declined rulership of the world three times, and yet remained unpraised because the common people never learned of his actions.”

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

The Master said, Tai Bo may be said to exemplify the highest virtue. Three times he relinquished the right to the empire, but the common people did not understand why this was praiseworthy.

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