子曰性相近也习相远也
The Master said, “By nature people are similar; they diverge as the result of practice.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, In nature close to one another, in practice far apart.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰质胜文则野文胜质则史文质彬彬然后君子
The Master said, “When native substance overwhelms cultural refinement, the result is a crude rustic. When cultural refinement overwhelms native substance, the result is a foppish pedant. Only when culture and native substance are perfectly mixed and balanced do you have a gentleman.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Where solid qualities outweigh refinement, you have rusticity. Where refinement outweighs solid qualities, you have the clerkly style. Refinement and solid qualities beautifully balanced—then you have the gentleman.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
