Knowledge

Analects 15.33

Original Text:

子曰知及之仁不能守之虽得之必失之知及之仁能守之不庄以涖之则民不敬知及之仁能守之庄以涖之动之不以礼未善也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If your wisdom reaches it, but your Goodness cannot protect it, then even though you may have attained it, you are sure to eventually lose it. If your wisdom reaches it, and your Goodness is able to protect it, but you cannot manifest it with dignity, then the common people will not be respectful. If your wisdom reaches it, your Goodness is able to protect it, and you can manifest it with dignity, but you do not use ritual to put it into motion, it will never be truly excellent.”

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

The Master said, You might have sufficient knowledge to gain a position, but if you do not have the humaneness needed to hold on to it, then although you gain it, you will surely lose it. You might have sufficient knowledge to gain a position and the humaneness needed to hold on to it, but if you do not administer it with dignity, the common people will not respect you. You might have sufficient knowledge to gain a position, the humaneness needed to hold on to it, and may administer it with dignity, but if your actions do not accord with ritual, the results will be less than good.

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

Analects 10.16

Original Text:

康子馈药拜而受之曰丘未达不敢尝

Translation:

Other Translations:

When Ji Kangzi sent him a gift of medicinal herbs, he bowed [to the messenger] and accepted it, but said, “I do not know what sort of medicine this is, so I dare not taste it.”

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

(Ji) Kangzi presented Confucius with some medicine. Confucius bowed to the ground in accepting it, but said, As I am not familiar with this medicine, I do not venture to taste it.

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

Analects 9.8

Original Text:

子曰吾有知乎哉无知也有鄙夫问于我空空如也我叩其两端而竭焉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Do I possess wisdom? No, I do not. [For example, recently] a common fellow asked a question of me, and I came up completely empty. But I discussed the problem with him from beginning to end until we finally got to the bottom of it.”

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

The Master said, Do I have knowledge? I have no special knowledge. But if an uneducated fellow comes to me with a question, I attack it with all sincerity, exploring it from end to end until I’ve exhausted it.

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

Analects 7.28

Original Text:

子曰盖有不知而作之者我无是也多闻择其善者而从之多见而识之知之次也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “No doubt there are those who try to innovate without acquiring knowledge, but this is a fault that I do not possess. I listen widely, and then pick out that which is excellent in order to follow it; I see many things, and then remember them. This constitutes a second-best sort of knowledge.”

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

The Master said, There are those who do not have knowledge and yet make things. I’m not that way. I hear much, choose what is good and follow it, see much and keep it in mind. This is the next best thing to knowledge.

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

Analects 7.20

Original Text:

子曰我非生而知之者好古敏以求之者也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I am not someone who was born with knowledge. I simply love antiquity, and diligently look there for knowledge.”

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

The Master said, I was not born understanding anything. A lover of antiquity, I have diligently worked to acquire understanding.

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

Analects 6.8

Original Text:

季康子问仲由可使从政也与子曰由也果于从政乎何有曰赐也可使从政也与曰赐也达于从政乎何有曰求也可使从政也与曰求也艺于从政乎何有

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ji Kangzi asked, “Could Zilu be employed to carry out official business?”

The Master replied, “Zilu is resolute. What difficulty would he have carrying out official business?”

“What about Zigong?”

“Zigong is perceptive. What difficulty would he have carrying out official business?”

“What about Ran Qiu?”

“Ran Qiu is a master of the arts. What difficulty would he have carrying out official business?”

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

Ji Kangzi asked, Would Zhongyou (Zilu) be suitable to hold government office?

The Master said, Zhongyou is decisive. Why wouldn’t he do for government office?

Would Si (Zigong) do for government office?

The Master said, Si is knowledgeable. Why wouldn’t he do for government office?

Would Qiu (Ran Qiu) do for government office?

The Master said, Qiu is talented. Why wouldn’t he do for government office?

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

Analects 2.17

Original Text:

子曰由诲汝知之乎知之为知之不知为不知是知也

Translation:

The Master said, “Zilu, remark well what I am about to teach you! This is wisdom: to recognize what you know as what you know, and recognize what you do not know as what you do not know.”

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

The Master said, You (Zilu), shall I teach you what it means to know something? When you know, to know you know. When you don’t know, to know you don’t know. That’s what knowing is.

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