Analects 11.16

Original Text:

子贡问师与商也孰贤子曰师也过商也不及曰然则师愈与子曰过犹不及

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked, “Who is more worthy, Zizhang or Zixia?”

The Master replied, “Zizhang overshoots the mark, while Zixia falls short of it.”

“Then can we say that Zizhang is better?”

The Master replied, “Overshooting the mark is just as bad as falling short of it.”

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

Zigong asked, Of Shi (Zizhang) and Shang (Zixia), which is worthier?

The Master said, Shi goes too far; Shang, not far enough.

Then Shi is the better man?

The Master said, Going too far is as bad as not going far enough.

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