Disgrace

Analects 18.8

Original Text:

逸民伯夷叔齐虞仲夷逸朱张柳下惠少连子曰不降其志不辱其身伯夷叔齐与谓柳下惠少连降志辱身矣言中伦行中虑其斯而已矣谓虞仲夷逸隐居放言身中清废中权我则异于是无可无不可

Translation:

Other Translations:

Those men who went into seclusion include Bo Yi, Shu Qi, Yu Zhong, Yi Yi, Zhu Zhang, Liuxia Hui, and Shao Lian.

The Master said, “Unwilling to lower their aspirations or bring disgrace upon their persons—such were Bo Yi and Shu Qi.”

Of Liuxia Hui and Shao Lian he said, “Although they lowered their aspirations and brought disgrace upon their persons, at least their speech was in accord with their status and their actions were in accord with their thoughts.”

Of Yu Zhong and Yi Yi he said, “Living in seclusion and freely speaking their minds, their persons remained pure and their resignations from office were well-considered.”

He concluded, “I, however, am different from all of them in that I have no preconceived notions of what is permissible and what is not.”

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

Those who withdrew from the world: Bo Yi, Shu Qi, Yu Zhong, Yi Yi, Zhu Zhang, Liuxia Hui, Shao Lian.

he Master said, They never lowered their aims, never let themselves be disgraced—that would be Bo Yi and Shu Qi, would it not?

He said, Liuxia Hui and Shao Lian lowered their aims and suffered disgrace. But they spoke in accordance with reason, acted in accordance with careful thought—that much can be said of them.

And he said, Yu Zhong and Yi Yi lived in seclusion, gave up speaking, kept themselves free of stain, and in their withdrawal accorded with expediency. I myself differ from these men. I have no hard and fast dos and don’ts.

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

Analects 17.6

Original Text:

子张问仁于孔子孔子曰能行五者于天下为仁矣请问之曰恭宽信敏惠恭则不侮宽则得众信则人任焉敏则有功惠则足以使人

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zizhang asked Confucius about Goodness.

Confucius replied, “Someone could be considered Good who is able to, everywhere in the world, put five virtues into practice.”

“May I ask what these virtues are?”

“Reverence, magnanimity, trustworthiness, diligence, and kindness. If you are reverent, you will avoid disgrace; if you are magnanimous, you will win the populace; if you are trustworthy, others will put their trust in you; if you are diligent, you will achieve results; and if you are kind, you will have the wherewithal to employ the people.”

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

Zizhang asked Confucius about humaneness. Confucius said, A person who can exercise these five in his dealings with the world is acting humanely.

When Zizhang asked what “these five” were, Confucius said, Courtesy, tolerance, trustworthiness, diligence, and kindness. Be courteous, and you avoid disrespect. Be tolerant, and you win over the multitude. Be trustworthy, and you are trusted by others. Be diligent, and your work will go well. Be kind, and you will be able to employ others.

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

Analects 4.26

Original Text:

子游曰事君数斯辱矣朋友数斯疏矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ziyou said, “Being overbearing in service to a lord will lead to disgrace, while in relating to friends and companions it will lead to estrangement.”

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

Ziyou said Be too censorious in serving the ruler, and you will end up in disgrace. Be that way with your friends, and you will lose them.

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

Analects 4.9

Original Text:

子曰士志于道而耻恶衣恶食者未足与议也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “A scholar-official who has set his heart upon the Way, but who is still ashamed of having shabby clothing or meager rations, is not worth engaging in discussion.”

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

The Master said A man of station whose will is set on the Way but who is ashamed of poor clothing and poor food – not worth talking to!

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