Profit

Analects 14.12

Original Text:

子路问成人子曰若臧武仲之知公绰之不欲卞庄子之勇冉求之艺文之以礼乐亦可以为成人矣曰今之成人者何必然见利思义见危授命久要不忘平生之言亦可以为成人矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu asked about the complete person.

The Master said, “Take a person as wise as Zang Wuzhong, as free of desire as Gongchuo, as courageous as Zhuangzi of Bian, and as accomplished in the arts as Ran Qiu, and then acculturate them by means of ritual and music—such a man might be called a complete person.”

He continued: “But must a complete person today be exactly like this? When seeing a chance for profit he thinks of what is right; when confronting danger he is ready to take his life into his own hands; when enduring an extended period of hardship, he does not forget what he had professed in more fortunate times—such a man might also be called a complete person.”

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

Zilu asked about the complete person. The Master said, Zang Wuzhong’s understanding, Meng Gongchuo’s freedom from desire, the valor of Zhuangzi of Pian, the arts of Ran Qiu—embellish them through rites and music, and you have what may be termed the complete person.

And he said, But the complete person of our times need not necessarily be like this. If when he spies gain, he remembers what is right; when he spies danger, is ready to risk his life; when faced with old promises, does not forget his past words; then he can be termed a complete person.

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

Analects 13.17

Original Text:

子夏为莒父宰问政子曰无欲速无见小利欲速则不达见小利则大事不成

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia, who was serving as steward of Jifu, asked about governing.

The Master said, “Do not crave speed, and do not be enticed by the prospect of minor gains. If you crave speed, then you will never arrive, and if you are distracted by the prospect of minor gains you will never complete major tasks.”

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

When Zixia became steward of Jufu, he asked about government. The Master said, Don’t try to hurry things; don’t go after petty gain. Try to hurry, and you accomplish nothing. Go after petty gain, and the big undertakings won’t succeed.

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

Analects 11.19

Original Text:

子曰回也其庶乎屡空赐不受命而货殖焉亿则屡中

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “How close was Yan Hui [to being morally perfected], and yet he was perpetually impoverished. [Unlike Yan Hui,] Zigong will not accept his fate, and so engages in business speculation. His conjectures, though, are always on the mark.”

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

The Master said, Hui comes near [to the ideal], though he is often in want. Si (Zigong) holds no government office but knows how to turn a profit. His guesses often hit the mark.

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

Analects 9.1

Original Text:

子罕言利与命与仁

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master openly expressed his views on profit, the Heavenly Mandate, and Goodness.

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

The Master seldom spoke about profit, about fate, or about humaneness.

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

Analects 4.16

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 4.12

Original Text:

子曰放于利而行多怨

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If in your affairs you abandon yourself to the pursuit of profit, you will arouse much resentment.”

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

The Master said, Act only with profit in mind, and you face much rancor.

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

Analects 4.11

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.