Learning

Analects 6.3

Original Text:

哀公问弟子孰为好学孔子对曰有颜回者好学不迁怒不贰过不幸短命死矣今也则亡未闻好学者也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Duke Ai asked, “Who among your disciples might be said to love learning?”

Confucius answered, “There was one named Yan Hui who loved learning. He never misdirected his anger and never made the same mistake twice. Unfortunately, his allotted lifespan was short, and he has passed away. Now that he is gone, there are none who really love learning—at least, I have yet to hear of one.”

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

Duke Ai questioned Confucius, saying, Who among your disciples loves learning?

Confucius replied, There was Yan Hui—he loved learning, never took his anger out on others, never repeated his mistakes. Regrettably, he had a short life and is dead now. Since then, there are none who love learning, or none I’ve heard of.

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

Analects 5.28

Original Text:

子曰十室之邑必有忠信如丘者焉不如丘之好学也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “In any village of ten households there are surely those who are as dutiful or trustworthy as I am, but there is no one who matches my love for learning.”

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

The Master said, In a village of ten households there are certain to be those who are as loyal and trustworthy as I am, but none my equal in love of learning!

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

Analects 5.15

Original Text:

子贡问曰孔文子何以谓之文也子曰敏而好学不耻下问是以谓之文也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked, “Why was Kong Wenzi accorded the title ‘Cultured’ ?”

The Master replied, “He was diligent and loved learning, and was not ashamed to ask advice from his inferiors. This is why he was accorded the title, ‘Cultured.’ ”

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

Zigong asked, Why was Kong Wenzi given the posthumous name Cultured (Wen)?

The Master said, Clear-sighted and a lover of learning, he was not ashamed to ask questions of his inferiors. Therefore he was given the name Cultured.

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

Analects 5.14

Original Text:

子路有闻未之能行唯恐有闻

Translation:

Other Translations:

When Zilu learned something, but had not yet been able to put it into practice, his only fear was that he would learn something new.

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

When Zilu had heard something and had not yet been able to put it into practice, his only fear was that he might hear something else.

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

Analects 5.3

Original Text:

子谓子贱君子哉若人鲁无君子者斯焉取斯

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said of Zijian, “What a gentleman he is! If Lu were really without gentlemen, where did he learn how to be like that?”

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

The Master said of Zijian, A real gentleman, this one! If there were no gentlemen in Lu, how could he have become like this?

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

Analects 2.16

Original Text:

子曰攻乎异端斯害也已

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Working from the wrong starting point will lead to nothing but harm.”

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

The Master said, To delve into strange doctrines can bring only harm.

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

Analects 2.15

Original Text:

子曰学而不思则罔思而不学则殆

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If you learn without thinking about what you have learned, you will be lost. If you think without learning, however, you will fall into danger.”

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

The Master said, Learning without thought is pointless. Thought without learning is dangerous.

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

Analects 2.4

Original Text:

子曰吾十有五而志于学三十而立四十而不惑五十而知天命六十而耳顺七十而从心所欲不逾矩

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “At fifteen, I set my mind upon learning;

at thirty, I took my place in society;

at forty, I became free of doubts;

at fifty, I understood Heaven’s Mandate;

at sixty, my ear was attuned;

and at seventy, I could follow my heart’s desires without overstepping the bounds of propriety.”

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

The Master said, At fifteen I set my mind on learning; by thirty I had found my footing; at forty I was free of perplexities; by fifty I understood the will of Heaven; by sixty I learned to give ear to others; by seventy I could follow my heart’s desires without overstepping the line.

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

Analects 1.14

Original Text:

子曰君子食无求饱居无求安敏于事而慎于言就有道而正焉可谓好学也已

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is not motivated by the desire for a full belly or a comfortable abode. He is simply scrupulous in behavior and careful in speech, drawing near to those who possess the Way in order to be set straight by them. Surely this and nothing else is what it means to love learning.

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

The Master said, A gentleman when he eats doesn’t try to stuff himself, when he chooses a dwelling is not overly concerned about comfort. He is attentive to affairs, careful of his words, and looks to those who have the Way to correct himself. He’s the kind who can be called a lover of learning.

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