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.
孔子曰见善如不及见不善如探汤吾见其人矣吾闻其语矣隐居以求其志行义以达其道吾闻其语矣未见其人也
Confucius said, “ ‘Seeing goodness, and striving for it urgently, as if never able catch up; seeing badness, and recoiling as if scalded by hot water’—I have seen such people, and have heard such words.”
“ ‘Dwelling in seclusion in order to pursue one’s aspirations, practicing rightness in order to realize the Way’—I have heard such words, but have yet to see such a person.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Confucius said, He sees what is good and acts as though he could never attain it, sees what is not good and acts as though he had put his hand in scalding water—I’ve seen people like that and heard reports of their kind. He lives in seclusion in order to fulfill his aims, practices rightness in order to perfect his Way—I’ve heard reports of such people but never actually seen them.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰其言之不怍则为之也难
The Master said, “If you are shameless in what you propose, you may then find it difficult to put your words into practice.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, He who speaks irresponsibly will find it hard to put his words into action.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子曰德之不修学之不讲闻义不能徙不善不能改是吾忧也
The Master said, “That I fail to cultivate Virtue, that I fail to inquire more deeply into that which I have learned, that upon hearing what is right I remain unable to move myself to do it, and that I prove unable to reform when I have done something wrong—such potential failings are a source of constant worry to me.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Virtue not sufficiently practiced, learning not sufficiently digested, to hear what is right and not be able to do it, to have shortcomings and not be able to remedy them—these are the things that I worry about.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
子路有闻未之能行唯恐有闻
When Zilu learned something, but had not yet been able to put it into practice, his only fear was that he would learn something new.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
When Zilu had heard something and had not yet been able to put it into practice, his only fear was that he might hear something else.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
曾子曰吾日三省吾身为人谋而不忠乎与朋友交而不信乎传不习乎
Master Zeng said, “Every day I examine myself on three counts: in my dealings with others, have I in any way failed to be dutiful? In my interactions with friends and associates, have I in any way failed to be trustworthy? Finally, have I in any way failed to repeatedly put into practice what I teach?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
Master Zeng said, Each day I examine myself on three matters. In making plans for others, am I being loyal to them? In my dealings with friends, am I being trustworthy? Am I passing on to others what I have not carefully thought about myself?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
The Master said, “To learn and then have occasion to practice what you have learned – is this not satisfying? To have friends arrive from afar – is this not a joy? To be patient even when others do not understand – is this nto the mark of the gentleman?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master said, Studying, and from time to time going over what you’ve learned – that’s enjoyable, isn’t it? To have a friend come from a long way off – that’s a pleasure, isn’t it? Others don’t understand him, but he doesn’t resent it – that’s the true gentleman, isn’t it?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.
