Petty

Analects 15.34

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fifteen

Original Text:

子曰君子不可小知而可大受也小人不可大受而可小知也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is incapable of petty cleverness, but he can take on great tasks; the petty person is the opposite.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman cannot handle affairs demanding only limited understanding, but he is capable of large undertakings. The petty man is not capable of large undertakings, but he can handle affairs demanding limited understanding.

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

Analects 15.17

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fifteen

Original Text:

子曰群居终日言不及义好行小慧难矣哉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “People who can spend an entire day together indulging their predilection for petty cleverness, without their conversation ever once touching upon rightness—these are hard cases indeed!”

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

The Master said, Groups gathered together all day, not a word touching what is right, happy in carrying out their petty schemes—don’t look for much from them!

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

Analects 13.2

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Thirteen

Original Text:

仲弓为季氏宰问政子曰先有司赦小过举贤才曰焉知贤才而举之子曰举尔所知尔所不知人其舍诸

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zhonggong, who was serving as a steward for the Ji Family, asked the Master about governing.

The Master said, “First appoint your supervising officials, then overlook their petty faults and promote those who are worthy and talented.”

“How can I recognize those who are worthy and talented so that I can promote them?”

“Just promote the ones you know. As for those you do not know, will others allow them to be passed over?”

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

Zhonggong, who was serving as steward to the Ji family, asked about government.

The Master said, Your first concern should be the officers in your employ. Excuse minor shortcomings, and promote those of outstanding talent.

How can I know those of outstanding talent in order to promote them?

The Master said, Promote those you know to be worthy. As for those you don’t know, will others fail to mention them?

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

Analects 7.37

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seven

Original Text:

子曰君子坦荡荡小人长戚戚

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is self-possessed and relaxed, while the petty man is perpetually full of worry.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman is composed, at peace with things. The petty man is constantly fretting, fretting.

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

Analects 6.13

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

子谓子夏曰女为君子儒毋为小人儒

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said to Zixia, “Be a gentlemanly ru. Do not be a petty ru.”

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

The Master said to Zixia, You should be a gentleman scholar. Don’t be a petty man scholar.

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

Analects 4.16

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Four

Original Text:

子曰君子喻于义小人喻于利

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman understands rightness, whereas the petty person understands profit.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman is alert to what is right. The petty man is alert to what is profitable.

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

Analects 4.11

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Four

Original Text:

子曰君子怀德小人怀土君子怀刑小人怀惠

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman cherishes virtue, whereas the petty person cherishes physical possessions. The gentleman thinks about punishments, whereas the petty person thinks about exemptions.”

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

The Master said, The gentleman has his mind fixed on virtue; the petty man has his mind fixed on land. The gentleman has his mind fixed on penalties; the petty man has his mind fixed on bounty.

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