Lose

Analects 17.15

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Original Text:

子曰鄙夫可与事君也与哉其未得之也患得之既得之患失之苟患失之无所不至矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Is it really possible to work alongside one of these common fellows in serving your lord? Before such a person has obtained an official position, all that concerns him is getting one; once he has gotten one, all that concerns him is hanging onto it. And if he is concerned about hanging onto it, there are no extremes to which he will not go.”

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

The Master said, Can you serve the ruler with some mean-minded fellow as your companion? Before he has gotten what he wants, he worries he won’t get it. After he has gotten it, he worries he’ll lose it. And when he starts worrying about losing it, there’s nothing he won’t do!

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

Analects 16.2

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Original Text:

孔子曰天下有道则礼乐征伐自天子出天下无道则礼乐征伐自诸侯出自诸侯出盖十世希不失矣自大夫出五世希不失矣陪臣执国命三世希不失矣天下有道则政不在大夫天下有道则庶人不议

Translation:

Other Translations:

Confucius said, “When the Way prevails in the world, rituals, music, punitive expeditions, and attacks against foreign powers issue from the Son of Heaven. When the Way does not prevail in the world, these things issue from the feudal lords. When they issue from the feudal lords, it is seldom more than ten generations before the lords lose control of them. When they issue from ministers, it is seldom more than five generations before the ministers lose control of them, and once household ministers seize control of state commands, it is seldom more than three generations before they lose control of them.”

“When the Way prevails in the world, control of the government does not reside with the ministers. When the Way prevails in the world, commoners do not debate matters of government.”

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

Confucius said, When the Way prevails in the world, rites, music, and punitive expeditions proceed from the Son of Heaven. When the Way no longer prevails in the world, rites, music, and punitive expeditions proceed from the feudal lords, and rarely does this situation continue for ten generations before failure ensues. If these proceed from the high officials, rarely five generations pass before failure; and if the retainers of the high officials govern the fate of the nation, rarely three generations before failure. When the Way prevails in the world, government is not in the hands of the high officials. When the Way prevails in the world, ordinary people voice no criticisms.

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

Analects 15.33

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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 14.19

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Original Text:

子言卫灵公之无道也康子曰夫如是奚而不丧孔子曰仲叔圉治宾客祝鮀治宗庙王孙贾治军旅夫如是奚其丧

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master remarked that Duke Ling of Wei lacked the Way. Ji Kangzi said, “If that is so, why has he not lost his state?”

The Master replied, “Kong Wenzi manages his diplomatic protocol, Priest Tuo manages his ancestral temples, and Wangsun Jia manages his military affairs. This being the case, how could he lose his state?”

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

Speaking of Duke Ling of Wei, the Master said that he lacked the Way.

Ji Kangzi said, If so, why doesn’t he meet with failure?

Confucius said, He has Zhongshu Yu (Gongshu Wenzi) to receive foreign envoys, Invocator Tuo to supervise the ancestral temples, and Wangsun Jia to handle military affairs. Given such conditions, how could he fail?

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