曰骥不称其力称其德也
The Master said, “One does not praise a thoroughbred horse for its physical strength, but rather for its character.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
he Master said, The famous horse Qi was praised not for his strength but for his virtue.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
朋友之馈虽车马非祭肉不拜
When receiving a gift from a friend—even something as valuable as a cart or a horse—he did not bow unless it was a gift of sacrificial meat.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
If a friend presented him with a gift, even though it might be a horse or carriage, he did not bow to the ground to receive it. Only in the case of sacrificial meat did he do so.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰孟之反不伐奔而殿将入门策其马曰非敢后也马不进也
The Master said, “Meng Zhifan is not given to boasting. When his forces were retreating he stayed behind to defend the rear, but as they were about to enter the city gates he spurred his horses ahead, saying, ‘It was not my courage that kept me back, but merely that my horses would not advance.’ ”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Meng Zhifan never boasted. When our forces fled in defeat, he guarded the rear. But when he was about to enter the city gates, he whipped up his horses, saying, I wasn’t deliberately lagging behind—my horses wouldn’t go any faster.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
