Employ

Analects 18.3

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eighteen

Original Text:

齐景公待孔子曰若季氏则吾不能以季孟之间待之曰吾老矣不能用也孔子行

Translation:

Other Translations:

With regard to how he should treat Confucius, Duke Jing of Qi said, “I cannot treat him as I would the head of the Ji Family; I shall treat him at a level somewhere between that of the head of the Ji Family and the head of the Meng Family.” On a later occasion, he remarked, “I am too old, I will not be able to employ him.” Confucius then left the state of Qi.

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

Duke Jing of Qi, speaking of the treatment that he was prepared to offer Confucius, said, I cannot give him the treatment accorded the senior branch of the Ji family. It would have to be the treatment accorded someone in between the senior and the junior branches. [To Confucius] he said, I’m old—I cannot make proper use of you.

Confucius left the state of Qi.

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

Analects 17.4

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Original Text:

子之武城闻弦歌之声夫子莞尔而笑曰割鸡焉用牛刀子游对曰昔者偃也闻诸夫子曰君子学道则爱人小人学道则易使也子曰二三子偃之言是也前言戏之耳

Translation:

Other Translations:

When the Master went to Wucheng, he heard the sound of stringed instruments and song. Smiling gently, he remarked, “Why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?”

Ziyou replied, “In the past, Master, I have heard you say, ‘If the gentleman learns the Way he will be able to care for others, and if commoners learn the Way they will be easy to manage.’ ”

[Addressing the disciples who had accompanied him to Wucheng,] the Master said, “Take note, my disciples! What Ziyou says is true. My earlier comment was meant only as a joke.”

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

When the Master visited Wucheng, he listened to the music of stringed instruments and a chorus. A smile came to his face, and he said, To cut up a chicken, why use an ox-cleaver?

Ziyou replied, In the past I have heard you say, Master, that when the gentleman studies the Way, he learns to love others, and when the petty man studies the Way, he becomes easy to employ.

The Master said, You young men, what Yan (Ziyou) says is right. My earlier remark was just meant as a joke.

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 13.25

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Original Text:

子曰君子易事而难说也说之不以道不说也及其使人也器之小人难事而易说也说之虽不以道说也及其使人也求备焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is easy to serve, but hard to please. If you attempt to please him in a manner not in accordance with the Way, he will not be pleased, but when he employs others, he does so in consideration of their particular capacities. The petty person is hard to serve, but easy to please. If you attempt to please him, he will be pleased, even if it is in a manner not in accordance with the Way, but when it comes to his employment of others, he demands everything from them.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman is easy to serve but hard to please. Try to please him with what does not accord with the Way, and he will not be pleased. But when he employs others, he thinks of their particular capabilities.

The petty man is hard to serve but easy to please. Try pleasing him with what does not accord with the Way, and he will be pleased. But when he employs others, he expects them to be able to do anything.

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

Analects 13.10

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Original Text:

子曰苟有用我者期月而已可也三年有成

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “ ‘If someone would simply employ me, within a single year I could put things into some kind of order, and within three years the transformation would be complete.”

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

The Master said, If someone were to employ me in government, in one year I could show what I can do. And in three years, I could bring things to completion.

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