Fate

Analects 20.3

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Twenty

Original Text:

孔子曰不知命无以为君子也不知礼无以立也不知言无以知人也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Confucius said, “One who does not understand fate lacks the means to become a gentleman. One who does not understand ritual lacks the means to take his place. One who does not understand words lacks the means to evaluate others.”

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

Confucius said, If you do not understand the will of Heaven, you will have no way to become a gentleman. If you do not understand ritual, you will have nowhere to take your stand. If you do not understand words, you will have no way to know people.

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

Analects 14.36

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

公伯寮愬子路于季孙子服景伯以告曰夫子固有惑志于公伯寮吾力犹能肆诸市朝子曰道之将行也与命也道之将废也与命也公伯寮其如命何

Translation:

Other Translations:

Gongbo Liao submitted an accusation against Zilu to the head of the Ji Family. Zifu Jingbo reported this to Confucius, adding, “That master [i.e., Ji Kangzi] has certainly been led astray by Gongbo Liao, but my influence with him is still sufficient to see to it that Gongbo Liao’s corpse is displayed at court or in the marketplace.”

The Master said, “Whether or not the Way is to be put into action is a matter of fate. Whether or not the Way is to be discarded is also a matter of fate. What power does Gongbo Liao have to affect fate!”

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

Gongbo Liao spoke ill of Zilu to the head of the Ji family. Zifu Jingbo reported this, saying, My master[, Ji Sun,] has for some time been led astray by Gongbo Liao. But I still have enough influence to see that Gongbo Liao is executed and his corpse exposed in the marketplace.

The Master said, If the Way is destined to proceed, that is a matter of fate. And if the Way is destined to fail, that too is fate. How can Gongbo Liao change what is fated?

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

Analects 11.19

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eleven

Original Text:

子曰回也其庶乎屡空赐不受命而货殖焉亿则屡中

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “How close was Yan Hui [to being morally perfected], and yet he was perpetually impoverished. [Unlike Yan Hui,] Zigong will not accept his fate, and so engages in business speculation. His conjectures, though, are always on the mark.”

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

The Master said, Hui comes near [to the ideal], though he is often in want. Si (Zigong) holds no government office but knows how to turn a profit. His guesses often hit the mark.

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

Analects 9.1

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nine

Original Text:

子罕言利与命与仁

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master openly expressed his views on profit, the Heavenly Mandate, and Goodness.

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

The Master seldom spoke about profit, about fate, or about humaneness.

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

Analects 6.10

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

伯牛有疾子问之自牖执其手曰亡之命矣夫斯人也而有斯疾也斯人也而有斯疾也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Boniu fell ill, and the Master went to ask after his health. Grasping his hand through the window, the Master sighed, “That we are going to lose him must be due to fate! How else could such a man be afflicted with such an illness, [and we left with nothing we can do?] How else could such a man be afflicted with such an illness?”

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

Boniu (Ran Boniu) had an illness. The Master went to ask how he was, holding his hand through the window. He said, We are going to lose him. It’s fate, is it not? Such a man, and to have such an illness. Such a man, and to have such an illness.

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