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Analects 18.10

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eighteen

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

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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 16.5

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Original Text:

孔子曰益者三乐损者三乐乐节礼乐乐道人之善乐多贤友益矣乐骄乐乐佚游乐宴乐损矣

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Confucius said, “Beneficial types of joy number three, as do harmful types of joy. Taking joy in regulating yourself through the rites and music, in commending the excellence of others, or in possessing many worthy friends—these are the beneficial types of joy. Taking joy in arrogant behavior, idle amusements, or decadent licentiousness—these are the harmful types of joys.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Confucius said, Three kinds of delight are beneficial; three kinds are harmful. The delight of regulating oneself with rites and music, the delight of speaking of others’ good points, the delight of having many worthy friends—these are beneficial. Delight in extravagant pleasures, delight in idle wanderings, delight in the joys of the feast—these are harmful.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 16.4

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Original Text:

孔子曰益者三友损者三友友直友谅友多闻益矣友便辟友善柔友便佞损矣

Translation:

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Confucius said, “Beneficial types of friendship number three, as do harmful types of friendship. Befriending the upright, those who are true to their word, or those of broad learning—these are the beneficial types of friendship. Befriending clever flatterers, skillful dissemblers, or the smoothly glib—these are the harmful types of friendship.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Confucius said, Three kinds of friends are beneficial; three kinds are harmful. Straightforward friends, sincere friends, well-informed friends—these are beneficial. Hypocritical friends, sycophantic friends, glib-talking friends—these are harmful.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 12.24

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Original Text:

曾子曰君子以文会友以友辅仁

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “The gentleman acquires friends by means of cultural refinement, and then relies upon his friends for support in becoming Good.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Master Zeng said, The gentleman uses the arts in acquiring friends and uses friends in helping him to become humane.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 12.23

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Original Text:

子贡问友子曰忠告而善道之不可则止毋自辱焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked about friendship.
The Master replied, “Reprove your friend when dutifulness requires, but do so gently. If your words are not accepted then desist, lest you incur insult.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong asked how to deal with friends. The Master said, Advise them in a loyal manner; lead them with goodness. But if you get nowhere, then stop. No use to bring shame on yourself.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.26

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Original Text:

颜渊季路侍子曰盍各言尔志子路曰愿车马衣轻裘与朋友共敝之而无憾颜渊曰愿无伐善无施劳子路曰愿闻子之志子曰老者安之朋友信之少者怀之

Translation:

Other Translations:

Yan Hui and Zilu were in attendance. The Master said to them, “Why do you not each speak to me of your aspirations?”
Zilu answered, “I would like to be able to share my carts and horses, clothing and fur with my fellow students and friends, without feeling regret.”
Yan Hui answered, “I would like to avoid being boastful about my own abilities or exaggerating my accomplishments.”
Zilu then said, “I would like to hear of the Master’s aspirations.”
The Master said, “To bring comfort to the aged, to inspire trust in my friends, and be cherished by the youth.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Once, when Yan Yuan and Zilu were accompanying him, the Master said, Why don’t each of you speak of your desires?
Zilu said, I wish that I and my friends could share the same carriages and horses, robes and furs, and never worry if we wore them out.
Yan Yuan said, I would like never to boast of what good points I have and never cause trouble to others.
Zilu said, I would like to hear the Master’s desires.
The Master said, To free old people from worry, to be trustworthy toward my friends, and at all times solicitous of the young.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 4.26

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Original Text:

子游曰事君数斯辱矣朋友数斯疏矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ziyou said, “Being overbearing in service to a lord will lead to disgrace, while in relating to friends and companions it will lead to estrangement.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Ziyou said Be too censorious in serving the ruler, and you will end up in disgrace. Be that way with your friends, and you will lose them.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 1.8

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Original Text:

子曰君子不重则不威学则不固主忠信无友不如己者过则勿惮改

Translation:

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The Master said, “If a gentleman is not serious, he will not inspire awe, and what he learns will be grasped only superficially. Let your actions be governed by dutifulness and trustworthiness, and do not accept as a friend who is not your equal. If you have committed a transgression, do not be afraid to change your ways.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, If the gentleman lacks gravity, he won’t command respect. If he studies he will avoid narrow-mindedness. Put prime value on loyalty and trustworthiness, have no friends who are not your equal, and, if you make mistakes, don’t be afraid to correct them.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 1.4

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Original Text

曾子曰吾日三省吾身为人谋而不忠乎与朋友交而不信乎传不习乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “Every day I examine myself on three counts: in my dealings with others, have I in any way failed to be dutiful? In my interactions with friends and associates, have I in any way failed to be trustworthy? Finally, have I in any way failed to repeatedly put into practice what I teach?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Master Zeng said, Each day I examine myself on three matters. In making plans for others, am I being loyal to them? In my dealings with friends, am I being trustworthy? Am I passing on to others what I have not carefully thought about myself?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 1.1

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Original Text:

子曰学而时习之不亦说乎有朋自远方来不亦乐乎人不知而不愠不亦君子乎

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The Master said, “To learn and then have occasion to practice what you have learned – is this not satisfying? To have friends arrive from afar – is this not a joy? To be patient even when others do not understand – is this nto the mark of the gentleman?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Studying, and from time to time going over what you’ve learned – that’s enjoyable, isn’t it? To have a friend come from a long way off – that’s a pleasure, isn’t it? Others don’t understand him, but he doesn’t resent it – that’s the true gentleman, isn’t it?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.