Courageous

Analects 17.24

Original Text:

子贡曰君子亦有恶乎子曰有恶恶称人之恶者恶居下流而讪上者恶勇而无礼者恶果敢而窒者曰赐也亦有恶乎恶徼以为知者恶不孙以为勇者恶讦以为直者

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked, “Does the gentleman also have those whom he despises?”

The Master replied, “Yes, he does. He despises those who proclaim the faults of others; those who, occupying an inferior position, slander their superiors; those who are courageous but lack ritual; and those who are resolute and daring, but overly stubborn.”

“Do you, Zigong, also have those whom you despise?”

Zigong said, “I despise those who parrot others’ ideas and mistake this for wisdom; those who mistake insubordination for courage; and those who mistake the malicious exposing of other’s private affairs for uprightness.”

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

Zigong asked, Does the gentleman too have things he hates? The Master said, He has his hates. He hates those who go on about what is hateful in others. He hates those in low position who revile those above them. He hates courage that ignores ritual decorum; he hates firmness and decision that is not open-minded.

Zigong said, I too have things I hate. I hate plagiarists who pretend to be wise. I hate unruly people who pretend to be courageous. I hate scandal mongerers who pretend to be upright.

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

Analects 14.28

Original Text:

子曰君子道者三我无能焉仁者不忧知者不惑勇者不惧子贡曰夫子自道也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The Way of the gentleman is threefold, and yet I have not been able to achieve any aspect of it: ‘The Good do not worry, the wise are not confused, and the courageous do not fear.’ ”

Zigong replied, “[By quoting this saying], the Master has in fact described himself.”

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

he Master said, The Way of the gentleman has three characteristics that are still beyond me. The humane are never anxious; the wise, never perplexed; the brave, never afraid.

Zigong said, Master, that is your own Way.

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

Analects 9.29

Original Text:

子曰知者不惑仁者不忧勇者不惧

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The wise are not confused, the Good do not worry, and the courageous do not fear.”

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

The Master said, The wise are never perplexed; the humane, never anxious; the brave, never afraid.

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

Analects 8.2

Original Text:

子曰恭而无礼则劳慎而无礼则葸勇而无礼则乱直而无礼则绞君子笃于亲则民兴于仁故旧不遗则民不偷

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If you are respectful but lack ritual you will become exasperating; if you are careful but lack ritual you will become timid; if you are courageous but lack ritual you will become unruly; and if you are upright but lack ritual you will become inflexible.

“If the gentleman is kind to his relatives, the common people will be inspired toward goodness; if he does not neglect his old acquaintances, the people will honor their obligations to others.”

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

The Master said, Courtesy without ritual becomes labored; caution without ritual becomes timidity; daring without ritual becomes riotousness; directness without ritual becomes obtrusiveness.

If the gentleman treats those close to him with generosity, the common people will be moved to humaneness. If he does not forget his old associates, the common people will shun cold-heartedness.

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