Eloquent - Confucian Pages

Other Translations:

In his village community, Confucius was respectful and circumspect, seeming to be at a loss for words. When in the ancestral temples or at court, however, he spoke eloquently, though always with caution and restraint.

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

When Confucius was among the people of the community, he was mild and deferential, as though he were unable to speak. When he was in the ancestral temple of the ruler or at court, he spoke at length, though always in a circumspect manner.

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

Analects 5.5

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

或曰雍也仁而不佞子曰焉用佞御人以口给屡憎于人不知其仁焉用佞

Translation:

Other Translations:

Someone said, “Zhonggong is Good but not eloquent.”
The Master said, “Of what use is ‘eloquence’? If you go about responding to everyone with a clever tongue you will often incur resentment. I do not know whether or not Zhonggong is Good, but of what use is eloquence?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Someone said of Yong, He is humane but lacking in eloquence.
The Master said, Why does he need to be eloquent? People who overwhelm others with their glibness often end up hated by others. I don’t know if Yong is humane, but why does he need to be eloquent?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.