Persist - Confucian Pages

Other Translations:

Confucius said, “Those who are born understanding it are the best; those who come to understand it through learning are second. Those who find it difficult to understand and yet persist in their studies come next. People who find it difficult to understand but do not even try to learn are the worst of all.”

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

Confucius said, Those born with understanding rank highest. Those who study and gain understanding come next. Those who face difficulties and yet study—they are next. Those who face difficulties but never study—they are the lowest type of people.

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

Analects 14.38

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子路宿于石门晨门曰奚自子路曰自孔氏曰是知其不可而为之者与

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu spent the night at Stone Gate. The next morning, the gatekeeper asked him, “Where have you come from?”
Zilu answered, “From the house of Confucius.”
“Isn’t he the one who knows that what he does is impossible and yet persists anyway?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zilu stopped for the night at Stone Gate. The gatekeeper said, Where are you from? Zilu said, From the household of Confucius.
The gatekeeper said, The one who knows there’s nothing that can be done but keeps on trying?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.