Office

Analects 6.5

Original Text:

原思为之宰与之粟九百辞子曰毋以与尔邻里乡党乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

When Yuan Si was serving as steward, he was offered a salary of nine hundred measures of millet,4 but he declined it.

The Master said, “Do not decline it! [If you do not need it yourself], could you not use it to aid the households in your neighborhood?”

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

When Yuan Si was given the post of steward, he was offered an allotment of nine hundred measures of grain, but he declined it.

The Master said, Oh, no! You could have shared it with your neighboring communities, couldn’t you?

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

Analects 5.6

Original Text:

子使漆雕开仕对曰吾斯之未能信子说

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master gave Qidiao Kai permission to take office.

Qidiao Kai replied, “I cannot yet be trusted with such a responsibility.”

The Master was pleased.

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

The Master urged Qidiao Kai to take an official position, but he replied, I am not yet confident I’m up to it. The Master was pleased.

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