Resolute - Confucian Pages

Analects 17.24

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seventeen

Original Text:

子贡曰君子亦有恶乎子曰有恶恶称人之恶者恶居下流而讪上者恶勇而无礼者恶果敢而窒者曰赐也亦有恶乎恶徼以为知者恶不孙以为勇者恶讦以为直者

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong asked, “Does the gentleman also have those whom he despises?”
The Master replied, “Yes, he does. He despises those who proclaim the faults of others; those who, occupying an inferior position, slander their superiors; those who are courageous but lack ritual; and those who are resolute and daring, but overly stubborn.”
“Do you, Zigong, also have those whom you despise?”
Zigong said, “I despise those who parrot others’ ideas and mistake this for wisdom; those who mistake insubordination for courage; and those who mistake the malicious exposing of other’s private affairs for uprightness.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong asked, Does the gentleman too have things he hates? The Master said, He has his hates. He hates those who go on about what is hateful in others. He hates those in low position who revile those above them. He hates courage that ignores ritual decorum; he hates firmness and decision that is not open-minded.
Zigong said, I too have things I hate. I hate plagiarists who pretend to be wise. I hate unruly people who pretend to be courageous. I hate scandal mongerers who pretend to be upright.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 17.8

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seventeen

Original Text:

子曰由也女闻六言六蔽矣乎对曰未也居吾语女好仁不好学其蔽也愚好知不好学其蔽也荡好信不好学其蔽也贼好直不好学其蔽也绞好勇不好学其蔽也乱好刚不好学其蔽也狂

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Zilu! Have you heard about the six [virtuous] words and their six corresponding vices?”
Zilu replied, “I have not.”
“Sit! I will tell you about them.
“Loving Goodness without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of foolishness. Loving wisdom without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of deviance. Loving trustworthiness without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of harmful rigidity. Loving uprightness without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of intolerance. Loving courage without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of unruliness. Loving resoluteness without balancing it with a love for learning will result in the vice of willfulness.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, You (Zilu), have you heard of the six terms and the six flaws attending them?
Zilu replied, No, not yet.
Sit down, said the Master, and I will tell you. Love of humaneness without love of study invites the flaw of foolishness. Love of understanding without love of study invites the flaw of recklessness. Love of trustworthiness without love of study invites the flaw of injurious behavior. Love of uprightness without love of study invites the flaw of bluntness. Love of bravery without love of study invites the flaw of riotousness. Love of firmness without love of study invites the flaw of irrational action.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.39

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fourteen

Original Text:

子击磬于卫有荷蒉而过孔氏之门者曰有心哉击磬乎既而曰鄙哉硁硁乎莫己知也斯己而已矣深则厉浅则揭子曰果哉末之难矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master was playing the stone chimes in the state of Wei.
A man with a wicker basket strapped to his back passed by the door of the Kong Family residence and remarked, “Whoever is playing the chimes like that certainly has something on his mind!” After listening for a moment, he added, “How despicable is this petty stubbornness! If no one understands you, just tend to yourself.
‘If the river ford is deep, use the stepping-stones;
If it is shallow, simply raise your hem.’ ”
The Master [hearing these comments] responded, “Such resoluteness! Who could take issue with that!”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When he was in Wei, the Master was once playing the chiming stones. A man carrying a basket passed the gate of the house where Confucius was staying. He said, Someone of strong convictions is sounding the stones! After a while he said, Shallow—all this clang-clanging! If no one understands you, you give up, that’s all.
In deep water, let your robe get wet;
In shallow, hike it up.
The Master said, Quite right—that would be the easy way out.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.27

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Thirteen

Original Text:

子曰刚毅木讷近仁

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Resolute, decisive, straightforward, and reticent—these qualities are close to Goodness.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The firm, the bold, the simple, the slow in speech are near to humaneness.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.