Hit the mark - Confucian Pages

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 11.14

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eleven

Original Text:

鲁人为长府闵子骞曰仍旧贯如之何何必改作子曰夫人不言言必有中

Translation:

Other Translations:

The people of Lu were planning to remodel the Long Treasury.
Min Ziqian remarked, “Why not simply restore it? Why does it need to be completely remodeled?”
The Master said, “That man does not talk much, but when he does say something he inevitably hits the mark.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The people of Lu were rebuilding the Long Treasury. Min Ziqian said, Why not build it along the old lines? What need is there to make changes?
The Master said, This man doesn’t say much, but when he does speak, he’s sure to hit the mark.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.