Respect

Analects 8.2

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Original Text:

子曰恭而无礼则劳慎而无礼则葸勇而无礼则乱直而无礼则绞君子笃于亲则民兴于仁故旧不遗则民不偷

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If you are respectful but lack ritual you will become exasperating; if you are careful but lack ritual you will become timid; if you are courageous but lack ritual you will become unruly; and if you are upright but lack ritual you will become inflexible.

“If the gentleman is kind to his relatives, the common people will be inspired toward goodness; if he does not neglect his old acquaintances, the people will honor their obligations to others.”

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

The Master said, Courtesy without ritual becomes labored; caution without ritual becomes timidity; daring without ritual becomes riotousness; directness without ritual becomes obtrusiveness.

If the gentleman treats those close to him with generosity, the common people will be moved to humaneness. If he does not forget his old associates, the common people will shun cold-heartedness.

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

Analects 5.17

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Original Text:

子曰晏平仲善与人交久而敬之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Yan Pingzhong is good at interacting with other people—even after long acquaintance he continues to treat them with respect.”

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

The Master said, Yan Pingzhong was skilled in his dealings with others. Even toward those he had known for a long time, he remained respectful.

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

Analects 5.16

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Original Text:

子谓子产有君子之道四焉其行己也恭其事上也敬其养民也惠其使民也义

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said of Zichan, “Of the virtues that constitute the Way of the gentleman, he possessed four: in the way he conducted himself, he displayed reverence; in the way he served his superiors, he displayed respect; in the way he cared for the common people, he displayed benevolence; and in the way he employed the people, he displayed rightness.”

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

The Master said of Zichan, He exemplified the Way of the gentleman in four respects. In conducting himself, he was prudent. In serving his superiors, he was respectful. In looking out for the common people, he was caring. And in employing the common people, he followed what was right.

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

Analects 4.18

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Four

Original Text:

子曰事父母几谏见志不从又敬不违劳而不怨

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “In serving your parents you may gently remonstrate with them. However, once it becomes apparent that they have not taken your criticism to heart you should be respectful and not oppose them, and follow their lead diligently without resentment.”

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

The Master said, In serving your father and mother, you may gently admonish them. But if you see they have no intention of listening to you, then be respectful as before and do not disobey them. You might feel distressed but should never feel resentful.

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

Analects 2.20

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

季康子问使民敬忠以劝如之何子曰临之以庄则敬孝慈则忠举善而教不能则劝

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ji Kangzi asked, “How can I cause the common people to be respectful, dutiful, and industrious?”

The Master said, “Oversee them with dignity, and the people will be respectful; oversee them with filiality and kindness, and the people will be dutiful; oversee them by raising up the accomplished and instructing those who are unable, and the people will be industrious.”

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

Ji Kangzi asked, How can I make the common people respectful, loyal, and diligent in their work?

The Master said, If you are strict in overseeing them, they will be respectful. If you are filial and compassionate, they will be loyal. If you promote persons of goodness and teach those who are incompetent, then the people will be diligent.

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

Analects 2.8

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

子夏问孝子曰色难有事弟子服其劳有酒食先生馔曾是以为孝乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia asked about filial piety. The Master said, “It is the demeanor that is difficult. If there is work to be done, disciples shoulder the burden, and when wine and food are served, elders are given precedence, but surely filial piety consists of more than this.”

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

Zixia asked about filial devotion. The Master said, The difficult part is the facial expression. As for young people taking on the heavy work when there’s something to be done, or older people going first when there’s wine and food – can this be called filial devotion?

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

Analects 2.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

子游问孝子曰今之孝者是谓能养至于犬马皆能有养不敬何以别乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ziyou asked about filial piety. The Master said, “Nowadays ‘filial’ means simply being able to provide one’s parents with nourishment. But even dogs and horses are provided with nourishment. If you are not respectful, wherein lies the difference?”

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

Ziyou asked about filial devotion. The Master said, Nowadays it’s taken to mean just seeing that one’s parents get enough to eat. But we do that much for dogs or horses as well. If there is no reverence, how is it any different?

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

Analects 1.13

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book One

Original Text:

有子曰信近于义言可复也恭近于礼远耻辱也因不失其亲亦可宗也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master You said, “Trustworthiness comes close to rightness, in that your word can be counted upon. Reverence comes close to ritual propriety, in that it allows you to keep shame and public disgrace at a distance. Simply following these virtues, never letting them out of your sight – one cannot deny that this is worthy of respect.”

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

Master You said, Trustworthiness is close to rightness – it ensure that people will live up to their word. Courtesy is close to ritual decorum – it ensures that people will give wide berth to shame and disgrace. When one makes no mistakes in what he favors, he can serve as a leader.

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

Analects 1.10

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book One

Original Text:

子禽问于子贡曰夫子至于是邦也必闻其政求之与抑与之与子贡曰夫子温良恭俭让以得之夫子之求之也其诸异乎人之求之与

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ziqin asked Zigong, “When our Master arrives in a state, he invariably finds out about its government. Does he actively seek out this information? Surely it is not simply offered to him!”

Zigong answered, “Out Master obtains it through being courteous, refined, respectful, restrained and deferential. The Master’s way of seeking it is entirely different from other people’s way of seeking it, is it not?

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

Ziqin questioned Zigong, saying, When the Maaster goes to a particular state, he is certain to learn about its government. Does he seek such information? Or do others just give it to him?

Zigong said, The Master goes about it by being cordial, forthright, respectful, modest, and deferential. The Master’s way of seeking is different from that of others.

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

Analects 1.7

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Original Text:

子夏曰贤贤易色事父母能竭其力事君能致其身与朋友交言而有信虽曰未学吾必谓之学矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia said, “Imagine someone who recognizes and admires worthiness and therefore changes his lustful nature, who is able to fully exhaust his strength in serving his parents and extend himself to the utmost in serving his lord, and who is trustworthy in speech when interacting with friends and associates. Even if you said of such a person ‘Oh, but he is not learned,’ I would still insist that it is precisely such qualities that make on worthy of being called ‘learned.'”

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

Zixia said, If he treats worthy persons as worthy and is respectful to them, does all in his power to serve his father and mother, gives his best in the service of the ruler, and in dealings with friends is faithful to his word, though some may say he lacks learning, I would surely call him learned!

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