Mandate of Heaven

Analects 20.3

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Twenty

Original Text:

孔子曰不知命无以为君子也不知礼无以立也不知言无以知人也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Confucius said, “One who does not understand fate lacks the means to become a gentleman. One who does not understand ritual lacks the means to take his place. One who does not understand words lacks the means to evaluate others.”

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

Confucius said, If you do not understand the will of Heaven, you will have no way to become a gentleman. If you do not understand ritual, you will have nowhere to take your stand. If you do not understand words, you will have no way to know people.

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

Analects 16.8

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Sixteen

Original Text:

孔子曰君子有三畏畏天命畏大人畏圣人之言小人不知天命而不畏也狎大人侮圣人之言

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman stands in awe of three things: the Mandate of Heaven, great men, and the teachings of the sages. The petty person does not understand the Mandate of Heaven, and thus does not regard it with awe; he shows disrespect to great men, and ridicules the teachings of the sages.”

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

Confucius said, The gentleman has three things he stands in awe of. He stands in awe of the Mandate of Heaven, of persons in high position, and of the words of the sages. The petty man, failing to understand the Mandate of Heaven, does not view it with awe. He treats persons in high position with disrespect and scorns the words of the sages.

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

Analects 9.1

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nine

Original Text:

子罕言利与命与仁

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master openly expressed his views on profit, the Heavenly Mandate, and Goodness.

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

The Master seldom spoke about profit, about fate, or about humaneness.

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