Extreme

Analects 19.20

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Original Text:

子贡曰纣之不善不如是之甚也是以君子恶居下流天下之恶皆归焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong said, “Zhow’s wickedness was really not as extreme as they say. This is why the gentleman hates to dwell in low places, because all the badness in the world gathers there.”

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

Zigong said, Zhou was not really as evil as they say. That is why the gentleman hates to be held in low esteem—all the evil in the world ends up on him.

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

Analects 19.17

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Original Text:

曾子曰吾闻诸夫子人未有自致者也必也亲丧乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “I have heard from the Master that, even when a person has not yet been able to exert himself to the fullest, he will necessarily do so when it comes to mourning his own parents.”

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

Master Zeng said, I have heard our Master say, People never fully express what is in them. If one had to cite an exception, it would be when they are mourning a parent.

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

Analects 8.10

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Original Text:

子曰好勇疾贫乱也人而不仁疾之已甚乱也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “A person who is fond of courage but who despises poverty will become rebellious. A person who is not Good, and who is excessively criticized for it, will also become rebellious.”

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

The Master said, Where there is love of daring and hatred of poverty, disorder will result. And if people lack humaneness and their hatred is extreme, disorder will result.

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

Analects 7.29

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Original Text:

互乡难与言童子见门人惑子曰与其进也不与其退也唯何甚人洁己以进与其洁也不保其往也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The people of Hu Village were difficult to talk with [about the Way]. Therefore, when a young boy from the village presented himself for an interview, the disciples hesitated to let him in.

The Master said, “In allowing him to enter, I am not endorsing what he does after he retires. Why are you being so extreme? If a person purifies himself to enter, I accept his purification—I make no guarantees about what he will do once he leaves.”

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

The people of Hu village are hard to talk to. A young man came for an interview with the Master. His disciples were troubled by this.

The Master said, My concern was with what brought him, not with what he did after he left. What was so wrong about that? When a person comes to you in good faith, give him credit for the good faith. Don’t expect guarantees for what comes after.

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