Righteousness

Analects 19.1

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Original Text:

子张曰士见危致命见得思义祭思敬丧思哀其可已矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zizhang said, “To submit to fate when confronted with danger, to think of rightness when presented with an opportunity for gain, to focus on respectfulness when offering sacrifices, and to concentrate upon your grief when in mourning—these are the qualities that make a scholar-official acceptable.”

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

Zizhang said, When a man of station spies danger, he is prepared to give his life. When he spies gain, he thinks of what is right. At a sacrifice, he thinks of respectfulness; at a funeral, he thinks of grief. If he does this much, he will get by.

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 4.16

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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 2.24

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Original Text:

子曰非其鬼而祭之谄也见义不为无勇也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “To sacrifice to spirits that are not one’s own is to be presumptuous. To see what is right, but to fail to do it, is to be lacking in courage.”

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

The Master said, To sacrifice to those who are not one’s ancestors is flattery. To see what is right and not do it is cowardly.

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

Analects 1.13

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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.