Empty - Confucian Pages

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Do I possess wisdom? No, I do not. [For example, recently] a common fellow asked a question of me, and I came up completely empty. But I discussed the problem with him from beginning to end until we finally got to the bottom of it.”

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

The Master said, Do I have knowledge? I have no special knowledge. But if an uneducated fellow comes to me with a question, I attack it with all sincerity, exploring it from end to end until I’ve exhausted it.

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

Analects 8.5

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

曾子曰以能问于不能以多问于寡有若无实若虚犯而不校昔者吾友尝从事于斯矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “Able, and yet asking questions about abilities that one does not possess; using what one has much of in order to ask about what one lacks; having, yet seeming to lack; full, yet seeming empty; offended against, and yet feeling no need to retaliate. I once had a friend who was like this.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Master Zeng said, Able but consulting those who lack ability, of many talents but consulting those with few, possessing but seeming to be without, full yet seeming to be empty, offended against but never retaliating—in the past I had a friend who always tried to be like that.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.