Loyal

Analects 15.6

Original Text:

子张问行子曰言忠信行笃敬虽蛮貊之邦行矣言不忠信行不笃敬虽州里行乎哉立则见其参于前也在舆则见其倚于衡也夫然后行子张书诸绅

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zizhang asked about getting by in the world.

The Master replied, “In your speech, be dutiful and trustworthy, and in your conduct be sincere and respectful. In this way, you will always get by in the world, even if you find yourself in some barbarian state. If your words are not dutiful and trustworthy, and your conduct is not sincere and respectful, how can you possibly get along, even in your own region? When standing still, visualize these principles standing by your side; when riding in your carriage, see them resting before you on the crossbar. Only then will you get by in the world.”

Zizhang then wrote these words on the end of his sash.

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

Zizhang asked about how to get along in the world. The Master said, If your words are loyal and trustworthy and your actions sincere and respectful, then even in the lands of the Man and Mo tribes you will get along. But if your words are not loyal and trustworthy and your actions not sincere and respectful, then even in your own district or village you won’t get along, will you? When you stand up, see these words plainly before you; when riding in your carriage, see them resting on the crossbar. Act in this way and then you will get along.

Zizhang wrote this down on his sash.

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 2.20

Original Text:

季康子问使民敬忠以劝如之何子曰临之以庄则敬孝慈则忠举善而教不能则劝

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ji Kangzi asked, “How can I cause the common people to be respectful, dutiful, and industrious?”

The Master said, “Oversee them with dignity, and the people will be respectful; oversee them with filiality and kindness, and the people will be dutiful; oversee them by raising up the accomplished and instructing those who are unable, and the people will be industrious.”

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

Ji Kangzi asked, How can I make the common people respectful, loyal, and diligent in their work?

The Master said, If you are strict in overseeing them, they will be respectful. If you are filial and compassionate, they will be loyal. If you promote persons of goodness and teach those who are incompetent, then the people will be diligent.

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

Analects 1.8

Original Text:

子曰君子不重则不威学则不固主忠信无友不如己者过则勿惮改

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If a gentleman is not serious, he will not inspire awe, and what he learns will be grasped only superficially. Let your actions be governed by dutifulness and trustworthiness, and do not accept as a friend who is not your equal. If you have committed a transgression, do not be afraid to change your ways.

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

The Master said, If the gentleman lacks gravity, he won’t command respect. If he studies he will avoid narrow-mindedness. Put prime value on loyalty and trustworthiness, have no friends who are not your equal, and, if you make mistakes, don’t be afraid to correct them.

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

Analects 1.4

Original Text

曾子曰吾日三省吾身为人谋而不忠乎与朋友交而不信乎传不习乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “Every day I examine myself on three counts: in my dealings with others, have I in any way failed to be dutiful? In my interactions with friends and associates, have I in any way failed to be trustworthy? Finally, have I in any way failed to repeatedly put into practice what I teach?”

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

Master Zeng said, Each day I examine myself on three matters. In making plans for others, am I being loyal to them? In my dealings with friends, am I being trustworthy? Am I passing on to others what I have not carefully thought about myself?

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