子罕言利与命与仁
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.
子曰恭而无礼则劳慎而无礼则葸勇而无礼则乱直而无礼则绞君子笃于亲则民兴于仁故旧不遗则民不偷
The Master said, “If you are respectful but lack ritual you will become exasperating; if you are careful but lack ritual you will become timid; if you are courageous but lack ritual you will become unruly; and if you are upright but lack ritual you will become inflexible.
“If the gentleman is kind to his relatives, the common people will be inspired toward goodness; if he does not neglect his old acquaintances, the people will honor their obligations to others.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Courtesy without ritual becomes labored; caution without ritual becomes timidity; daring without ritual becomes riotousness; directness without ritual becomes obtrusiveness.
If the gentleman treats those close to him with generosity, the common people will be moved to humaneness. If he does not forget his old associates, the common people will shun cold-heartedness.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰若圣与仁则吾岂敢抑为之不厌诲人不倦则可谓云尔已矣公西华曰正唯弟子不能学也
The Master said, “How could I dare to lay claim to either sageliness or Goodness? What can be said about me is no more than this: I work at it without growing tired and encourage others without growing weary.”
Gong Xihua observed, “This is precisely what we disciples are unable to learn.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, The title of sage or humane man—how could I dare lay claim to such? But working without tiring, teaching others and never growing weary—yes, that much could be said of me.
Gongxi Hua said, It’s precisely this that we, his disciples, cannot equal him in!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰仁远乎哉我欲仁斯仁至矣
The Master said, “Is Goodness really so far away? If I simply desire Goodness, I will find that it is already here.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Is humaneness so far away? If I want humaneness, then humaneness is right here.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
冉有曰夫子为卫君乎子贡曰诺吾将问之入曰伯夷叔齐何人也曰古之贤人也曰怨乎曰求仁而得仁又何怨出曰夫子不为也
Ran Qiu was wondering out loud, “Does the Master support the Duke of Wei?”
Zigong replied, “Well, I will go ask him.”
He went in to see the Master, and said, “What sort of people were Bo Yi and Shu Qi?”
The Master replied, “They were ancient worthies.”
“Did they harbor any regrets?”
“They pursued Goodness and attained Goodness, what regrets could they possible have?”
Zigong emerged and reported to the other disciples, “The Master does not support him.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Ran You said, Will our Master side with the ruler of Wei? Zigong said, Very well, I’ll go and ask him.
Entering the Master’s room, Zigong said, What sort of men were Bo Yi and Shu Qi?
The Master said, Worthy men of antiquity.
Did they harbor rancor?
They sought to behave humanely, and they succeeded in doing so. Why would they harbor rancor?
When Zigong emerged from the room, he said, Our Master will not side with the ruler of Wei.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰志于道据于德依于仁游于艺
The Master said, “Set your heart upon the Way, rely upon Virtue, lean upon Goodness, and explore widely in your cultivation of the arts.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Set your sights on the Way, base yourself on virtue, rely on humaneness, relax with the arts.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰我未见好仁者恶不仁者好仁者无以尚之恶不仁者其为仁矣不使不仁者加乎其身有能一日用其力于仁矣乎我未见力不足者盖有之矣我未见也
The Master said, “I have yet to meet a person who truly loved Goodness or hated a lack of Goodness. One who truly loved Goodness could not be surpassed, while one who truly hated a lack of Goodness would at least be able to act in a Good fashion, as he would not tolerate that which is not Good being associated with his person.
“Is there a person who can, for the space of a single day, simply devote his efforts to Goodness? I have never met anyone whose strength was insufficient for this task. Perhaps such a person exists, but I have yet to meet him.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, I have never seen a person who really loved humaneness or a person who really hated the lack of humaneness. A person who really loved humaneness would have no one who surpassed him. A person who really hated the lack of humaneness would conduct himself humanely, never allowing those who lack humaneness to affect his behavior.
Is there someone who for a whole day is willing to use all his strength to achieve humaneness? I’ve never seen anyone who lacked the strength to do so – there may be such a person, but I’ve never seen one.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰富与贵是人之所欲也不以其道得之不处也贫与贱是人之所恶也不以其道得之不去也君子去仁恶乎成名君子无终食之间违仁造次必于是颠沛必于是
The Master said, “Wealth and social eminence are things that all people desire, and yet unless they are acquired in the proper way I will not abide them. Poverty and disgrace are things that all people hate, and yet unless they are avoided in the proper way I will not despise them.
“If the gentleman abandons Goodness, how can he merit the name? The gentleman does not go against Goodness even for the amount of time required to finish a meal. Even in times of urgency or distress, he necessarily accords with it.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Wealth and eminence are what people desire, but if one can’t get them by means that accord with the Way, one will not accept them. Poverty and low position are what people hate, but if one can’t avoid them by means that accord with the Way, one will not reject them.
If the gentleman rejects humaneness, how can he be worthy of the name of gentleman? The gentleman never departs from humanness even fort he space of a meal – in confusion and distress he holds fast to it; stumbling, faltering, he holds fast to it.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰苟志於仁矣无恶也
The Master said, “Merely set your heart sincerely upon Goodness and you will be free of bad intentions.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Truly set your mind on humanness, and you will be without evil.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
