Analects 17.18

Original Text:

子曰恶紫之夺朱也恶郑声之乱雅乐也恶利口之覆邦家者

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I hate that purple has usurped the place of vermillion, that the tunes of Zheng have been confused with classical music, and that the clever of tongue have undermined both state and family.”

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

The Master said, I hate the way the color purple detracts from red. I hate the way the tunes of Zheng throw the Ya music into confusion. I hate the way clever talkers bring ruin to the state and the leading families.

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