Gentleman - Confucian Pages

Analects 17.4

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Original Text:

子之武城闻弦歌之声夫子莞尔而笑曰割鸡焉用牛刀子游对曰昔者偃也闻诸夫子曰君子学道则爱人小人学道则易使也子曰二三子偃之言是也前言戏之耳

Translation:

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When the Master went to Wucheng, he heard the sound of stringed instruments and song. Smiling gently, he remarked, “Why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?”
Ziyou replied, “In the past, Master, I have heard you say, ‘If the gentleman learns the Way he will be able to care for others, and if commoners learn the Way they will be easy to manage.’ ”
[Addressing the disciples who had accompanied him to Wucheng,] the Master said, “Take note, my disciples! What Ziyou says is true. My earlier comment was meant only as a joke.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When the Master visited Wucheng, he listened to the music of stringed instruments and a chorus. A smile came to his face, and he said, To cut up a chicken, why use an ox-cleaver?
Ziyou replied, In the past I have heard you say, Master, that when the gentleman studies the Way, he learns to love others, and when the petty man studies the Way, he becomes easy to employ.
The Master said, You young men, what Yan (Ziyou) says is right. My earlier remark was just meant as a joke.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 16.10

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Original Text:

孔子曰君子有九思视思明听思聪色思温貌思恭言思忠事思敬疑思问忿思难见得思义

Translation:

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Confucius said, “There are nine things upon which a gentleman focuses his attention: when looking, he focuses on seeing clearly; when listening, he focuses on being discerning; in his expression, he focuses on being amiable; in his demeanor, he focuses on being reverent; in his speech, he focuses on being dutiful; in his actions, he focuses on being respectful; when in doubt, he focuses on asking questions; when angry, he focuses on thinking about the potential negative consequences of his anger; and when seeing gain, he focuses upon what is right.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Confucius said, The gentleman has nine things he thinks of. He thinks—is my vision clear? He thinks—is my hearing acute? He thinks—is my expression genial? He thinks—is my manner courteous? He thinks—are my words loyal? He thinks—am I respectful in the way I serve? He thinks—when in doubt, do I seek advice? He thinks—when angry, do I think of the troubles that may ensue? He thinks—when I spy gain, would I be right to take it?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 16.8

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Original Text:

孔子曰君子有三畏畏天命畏大人畏圣人之言小人不知天命而不畏也狎大人侮圣人之言

Translation:

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The Master said, “The gentleman stands in awe of three things: the Mandate of Heaven, great men, and the teachings of the sages. The petty person does not understand the Mandate of Heaven, and thus does not regard it with awe; he shows disrespect to great men, and ridicules the teachings of the sages.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Confucius said, The gentleman has three things he stands in awe of. He stands in awe of the Mandate of Heaven, of persons in high position, and of the words of the sages. The petty man, failing to understand the Mandate of Heaven, does not view it with awe. He treats persons in high position with disrespect and scorns the words of the sages.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 16.7

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Original Text:

孔子曰君子有三戒少之时血气未定戒之在色及其壮也血气方刚戒之在斗及其老也血气既衰戒之在得

Translation:

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Confucius said, “The gentleman guards against three things: when he is young, and his blood and vital essence are still unstable, he guards against the temptation of female beauty; when he reaches his prime, and his blood and vital essence have become unyielding, he guards against being contentious; when he reaches old age, and his blood and vital essence have begun to decline, he guards against being acquisitive.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Confucius said, The gentleman has three things to beware of. When he is young and his energies are not fully controlled, he bewares of sexual attraction. When he is mature and his energies are at their height, he bewares of aggressiveness. When he is old and his energies have waned, he bewares of avariciousness.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 16.6

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Original Text:

孔子曰侍于君子有三愆言未及之而言谓之躁言及之而不言谓之隐未见颜色而言谓之瞽

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Confucius said, “When attending a gentleman, there are three types of errors one may commit. To speak when it is not yet time to speak—this is called being rash. To not speak when it is time to speak—this is called being secretive. To speak without taking into account the countenance of one’s lord—this is called being blind.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Confucius said, In one’s relations with a gentleman, there are three errors to avoid. To speak of something before the time is right—this is called boorishness. To fail to speak when it is time to do so—this is called secretiveness. To speak without first observing the face of the person one is addressing—this is called blindness.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.37

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Original Text:

子曰君子贞而不谅

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is true, but not rigidly trustworthy.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman is firm but not stubbornly unbending.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.34

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Original Text:

子曰君子不可小知而可大受也小人不可大受而可小知也

Translation:

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The Master said, “The gentleman is incapable of petty cleverness, but he can take on great tasks; the petty person is the opposite.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman cannot handle affairs demanding only limited understanding, but he is capable of large undertakings. The petty man is not capable of large undertakings, but he can handle affairs demanding limited understanding.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.32

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Original Text:

子曰君子谋道不谋食耕也馁在其中矣学也禄在其中矣君子忧道不忧贫

Translation:

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The Master said, “The gentleman devotes his thoughts to attaining the Way, not to obtaining food. In the pursuit of agriculture, there is the possibility of starvation; in the pursuit of learning, there is the possibility of salary. The gentleman is concerned about the Way and not about poverty.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman schemes for the Way; he does not scheme for food. You might work the fields and still at times encounter hunger; you might study and at times acquire an official stipend. But the gentleman worries about the Way; he does not worry about poverty.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.23

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Original Text:

子曰君子不以言举人不以人废言

Translation:

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The Master said, “The gentleman does not promote someone solely based upon their words, nor does he dismiss words simply on account of the person who uttered them.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman does not esteem a person merely because of his words, nor does he disregard words merely because of the person.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.22

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Original Text:

子曰君子矜而不争群而不党

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is proud, but not competitive. He is sociable, but not partisan.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The gentleman is proud but not contentious; he joins with others but is not cliquish.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.