Employment

Analects 18.10

Original Text:

周公谓鲁公曰君子不施其亲不使大臣怨乎不以故旧无大故则不弃也无求备于一人

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Duke of Zhou said to the Duke of Lu, “The gentleman does not neglect his relatives, nor does he cause his great ministers to be angry about not being properly employed. Therefore, he does not dismiss someone who has been long in his service, unless they commit a grave offense, and he does not demand everything from any one person.”

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

The duke of Zhou said to the duke of Lu, The gentleman does not neglect his relatives and does not cause his high officials to be resentful because he does not heed them. He does not dismiss old associates without good reason, and he does not demand perfection from one person.

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

Analects 9.7

Original Text:

牢曰子云吾不试故艺

Translation:

Other Translations:

Lao said, “The Master once remarked, ‘I have not been employed, and therefore have become accomplished in the arts.’ ”

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

Lao reports that the Master said, I have never been given a proper trial—hence these “accomplishments.”

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

Analects 8.11

Original Text:

子曰如有周公之才之美使骄且吝其余不足观也已

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If a person has talents as fine as the Duke of Zhou, but is arrogant and mean-spirited, the rest of his qualities are not worth notice.”

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

The Master said, Although one may have talents as admirable as those of the duke of Zhou, if he employs them in an arrogant or a mean manner, then whatever other qualities he has are not worth a look!

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