Private

Original Text:

冉子退朝子曰何晏也对曰有政子曰其事也如有政虽不吾以吾其与闻之

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ran Qiu returned from court.

The Master asked, “Why so late?

Ran Qiu replied, “There were governmental matters to be discussed.”

The Master said, “No, what you were discussing were ‘private affairs’. If there were governmental matters to be discussed, how would I have not received word of them, even though I am not employed?”

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

Master Ran came from a gathering of the court. The Master said, Why are you so late?

Ran You replied, There was government business.

The Master said, Routine matters, no doubt. If there had been real government business, though I do not hold office, I would surely have been consulted.

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