Harmonious - Confucian Pages

Analects 14.16

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Original Text:

子路曰桓公杀公子纠召忽死之管仲不死曰未仁乎子曰桓公九合诸侯不以兵车管仲之力也如其仁如其仁

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu said, “When Duke Huan had his brother Prince Jiu murdered, Shao Hu died for his master, whereas Guan Zhong did not.” He then added, “Does this behavior not fall short of Goodness?”
The Master replied, “It was Guan Zhong’s strength that allowed Duke Huan, on many occasions, to harmoniously unite the feudal lords without the use of military force. But as for his Goodness, as for his Goodness …”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zilu said, When Duke Huan put to death his brother, the ducal son Jiu, Shao Hu died with him but Guan Zhong did not. That was hardly humane of Guan Zhong, was it?
The Master said, Duke Huan nine times called the other feudal rulers together in assembly and did so without employing his war chariots. Guan Zhong’s influence made this possible. But as for his humaneness, as for his humaneness—
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Other Translations:

Zilu asked, “What does a person have to be like to be considered a true scholar-official?”

The Master replied, “He must be earnest and critical, but also affable—earnest and critical with his friends, and affable with his brothers.”

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

Zilu asked, How should one conduct himself in order to be called a man of station?

The Master said, Earnest, exacting, but also harmonious—that would qualify you to be called a man of station. With friends, earnest, exacting. With elder and younger brothers, harmonious.

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