Parents

Analects 19.17

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nineteen

Original Text:

曾子曰吾闻诸夫子人未有自致者也必也亲丧乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng said, “I have heard from the Master that, even when a person has not yet been able to exert himself to the fullest, he will necessarily do so when it comes to mourning his own parents.”

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

Master Zeng said, I have heard our Master say, People never fully express what is in them. If one had to cite an exception, it would be when they are mourning a parent.

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

Analects 4.19

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Four

Original Text:

子曰父母在不远游游必有方

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “While your parents are alive, you should not travel far, and when you do travel you must keep to a fixed itinerary.”

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

The Master said, While his father and mother are alive, a son should not go on distant journeys. If he travels, he must have a fixed destination.

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

Analects 4.18

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Four

Original Text:

子曰事父母几谏见志不从又敬不违劳而不怨

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “In serving your parents you may gently remonstrate with them. However, once it becomes apparent that they have not taken your criticism to heart you should be respectful and not oppose them, and follow their lead diligently without resentment.”

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

The Master said, In serving your father and mother, you may gently admonish them. But if you see they have no intention of listening to you, then be respectful as before and do not disobey them. You might feel distressed but should never feel resentful.

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

Analects 2.8

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

子夏问孝子曰色难有事弟子服其劳有酒食先生馔曾是以为孝乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia asked about filial piety. The Master said, “It is the demeanor that is difficult. If there is work to be done, disciples shoulder the burden, and when wine and food are served, elders are given precedence, but surely filial piety consists of more than this.”

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

Zixia asked about filial devotion. The Master said, The difficult part is the facial expression. As for young people taking on the heavy work when there’s something to be done, or older people going first when there’s wine and food – can this be called filial devotion?

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

Analects 2.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

子游问孝子曰今之孝者是谓能养至于犬马皆能有养不敬何以别乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ziyou asked about filial piety. The Master said, “Nowadays ‘filial’ means simply being able to provide one’s parents with nourishment. But even dogs and horses are provided with nourishment. If you are not respectful, wherein lies the difference?”

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

Ziyou asked about filial devotion. The Master said, Nowadays it’s taken to mean just seeing that one’s parents get enough to eat. But we do that much for dogs or horses as well. If there is no reverence, how is it any different?

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

Analects 2.6

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

孟武伯问孝子曰父母唯其疾之忧

Translation:

Other Translations:

Meng Wubo asked about filial piety. The Master replied, “Give your parents no cause for anxiety other than the possibility that they might fall ill.”

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

Meng Wu Bo asked about filial devotion. The Master said, Your father and mother should have to worry only about your falling ill.

[Or, according to another interpretation of the last clause:]

In the case of one’s father and mother, one just worries about their falling ill.

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

Analects 1.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book One

Original Text:

子夏曰贤贤易色事父母能竭其力事君能致其身与朋友交言而有信虽曰未学吾必谓之学矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia said, “Imagine someone who recognizes and admires worthiness and therefore changes his lustful nature, who is able to fully exhaust his strength in serving his parents and extend himself to the utmost in serving his lord, and who is trustworthy in speech when interacting with friends and associates. Even if you said of such a person ‘Oh, but he is not learned,’ I would still insist that it is precisely such qualities that make on worthy of being called ‘learned.'”

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

Zixia said, If he treats worthy persons as worthy and is respectful to them, does all in his power to serve his father and mother, gives his best in the service of the ruler, and in dealings with friends is faithful to his word, though some may say he lacks learning, I would surely call him learned!

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