Learning

Analects 19.22

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nineteen

Original Text:

卫公孙朝问于子贡曰仲尼焉学子贡曰文武之道未坠于地在人贤者识其大者不贤者识其小者莫不有文武之道焉夫子焉不学而亦何常师之有

Translation:

Other Translations:

Gongsun Chao of Wei asked Zigong, “From whom did Confucius acquire his learning?”

Zigong replied, “The Way of Kings Wen and Wu has not yet fallen to the ground—it still exists in people. Those who are worthy understand its greater aspects, while those who are unworthy understand its lesser aspects. There is no one who does not have the Way of Wen and Wu within them. From whom did the Master not acquire his learning? And what need was there for him to have a formal teacher?”

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

Gongsun Chao of Wei questioned Zigong, saying, Where did Zhongni (Confucius) study?

Zigong said, The Way of Wen and Wu has not yet disappeared completely. Among the populace, worthy men remember the essentials, and those of little worth remember the minor points. There are none who do not possess the Way of Wen and Wu, so how could our Master fail to study it? But how can you say he studied with any particular teacher?

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

Analects 19.13

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nineteen

Original Text:

子夏曰仕而优则学学而优则仕

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia said, “One who excels in his official position should then devote himself to learning. One who excels in learning should then devote himself to official service.”

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

Zixia said, Hold public office, and if you have time left over, study. Study, and if you have time left over, hold public office.

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

Analects 19.5

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nineteen

Original Text:

子夏曰日知其所亡月无忘其所能可谓好学也已矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia said, “Being aware every day of what he still lacks, and after a month’s time not forgetting what he is already capable of—a person like this can be said to love learning.”

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

Zixia said, Day by day understanding what is beyond you, month by month never forgetting what you can do—you may be called a lover of learning.

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

Analects 17.8

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seventeen

Original Text:

子曰由也女闻六言六蔽矣乎对曰未也居吾语女好仁不好学其蔽也愚好知不好学其蔽也荡好信不好学其蔽也贼好直不好学其蔽也绞好勇不好学其蔽也乱好刚不好学其蔽也狂

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Zilu! Have you heard about the six [virtuous] words and their six corresponding vices?”

Zilu replied, “I have not.”

“Sit! I will tell you about them.

“Loving Goodness without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of foolishness. Loving wisdom without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of deviance. Loving trustworthiness without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of harmful rigidity. Loving uprightness without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of intolerance. Loving courage without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of unruliness. Loving resoluteness without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of willfulness.”

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

The Master said, You (Zilu), have you heard of the six terms and the six flaws attending them?

Zilu replied, No, not yet.

Sit down, said the Master, and I will tell you. Love of humaneness without love of study invites the flaw of foolishness. Love of understanding without love of study invites the flaw of recklessness. Love of trustworthiness without love of study invites the flaw of injurious behavior. Love of uprightness without love of study invites the flaw of bluntness. Love of bravery without love of study invites the flaw of riotousness. Love of firmness without love of study invites the flaw of irrational action.

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

Analects 16.9

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Sixteen

Original Text:

孔子曰生而知之者上也学而知之者次也困而学之又其次也困而不学民斯为下矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Confucius said, “Those who are born understanding it are the best; those who come to understand it through learning are second. Those who find it difficult to understand and yet persist in their studies come next. People who find it difficult to understand but do not even try to learn are the worst of all.”

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

Confucius said, Those born with understanding rank highest. Those who study and gain understanding come next. Those who face difficulties and yet study—they are next. Those who face difficulties but never study—they are the lowest type of people.

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

Analects 16.4

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Sixteen

Original Text:

孔子曰益者三友损者三友友直友谅友多闻益矣友便辟友善柔友便佞损矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Confucius said, “Beneficial types of friendship number three, as do harmful types of friendship. Befriending the upright, those who are true to their word, or those of broad learning—these are the beneficial types of friendship. Befriending clever flatterers, skillful dissemblers, or the smoothly glib—these are the harmful types of friendship.”

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

Confucius said, Three kinds of friends are beneficial; three kinds are harmful. Straightforward friends, sincere friends, well-informed friends—these are beneficial. Hypocritical friends, sycophantic friends, glib-talking friends—these are harmful.

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

Analects 15.32

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fifteen

Original Text:

子曰君子谋道不谋食耕也馁在其中矣学也禄在其中矣君子忧道不忧贫

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman devotes his thoughts to attaining the Way, not to obtaining food. In the pursuit of agriculture, there is the possibility of starvation; in the pursuit of learning, there is the possibility of salary. The gentleman is concerned about the Way and not about poverty.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman schemes for the Way; he does not scheme for food. You might work the fields and still at times encounter hunger; you might study and at times acquire an official stipend. But the gentleman worries about the Way; he does not worry about poverty.

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

Analects 15.31

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fifteen

Original Text:

子曰吾尝终日不食终夜不寝以思无益不如学也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I once engaged in thought for an entire day without eating and an entire night without sleeping, but it did no good. It would have been better for me to have spent that time in learning.”

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

The Master said, Once I went all day without eating and all night without sleeping in order to think. It was no use—better to study.

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

Analects 11.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eleven

Original Text:

季康子问弟子孰为好学孔子对曰有颜回者好学不幸短命死矣今也则亡

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ji Kangzi asked, “Who among your disciples could be said to love learning?”

The Master replied, “There was one named Yan Hui who loved learning, but unfortunately he was fated to live a short life, and has since passed away. Now there are none who really love learning.”

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

Ji Kangzi asked, Who among your disciples loves learning? Confucius replied, There was Yan Hui—he loved learning. Regrettably, he had only a short life and is dead now. Now there is no one.

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

Analects 11.3

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eleven

Original Text:

德行颜渊闵子骞冉伯牛仲弓言语宰我子贡政事冉有季路文学子游子夏

Translation:

Other Translations:

Those known for virtuous conduct: Yan Hui, Min Ziqian, Boniu, and Zhonggong. Those known for eloquence: Zai Wo and Zigong. Those known for administrative skill: Ran Qiu and Jilu. Those known for cultural learning: Ziyou and Zixia.

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

VIRTUOUS CONDUCT: Yan Yuan, Min Ziqian, Ran Boniu, Zhonggong

SKILL IN LANGUAGE: Zai Wo, Zigong

ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITY: Ran You, Jilu

CULTURAL ATTAINMENT: Ziyou, Zixia

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