Task

Analects 19.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Nineteen

Original Text:

子夏曰百工居肆以成其事君子学以致其道

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia said, “The various artisans dwell in their workshops in order to perfect their crafts, just as the gentleman learns in order to reach the end of his Way.”

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

Zixia said, The hundred craftsmen stay in their workshops in order to accomplish their tasks. The gentleman studies in order to perfect his Way.

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

Analects 15.38

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Original Text:

子曰事君敬其事而后其食

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “In serving your lord, show respect for the tasks you have been assigned. Do not make the salary you will receive a priority.”

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

The Master said, In serving the ruler, attend respectfully to your duties and look on pay as a secondary matter.

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

Analects 13.17

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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 13.5

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Original Text:

子曰诵诗三百授之以政不达使于四方不能专对虽多亦奚以为

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Imagine a person who can recite the several hundred odes by heart but, when delegated a governmental task, is unable to carry it out, or when sent abroad as an envoy, is unable to engage in repartee. No matter how many odes he might have memorized, what good are they to him?”

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

The Master said, A man may be able to recite all three hundred odes, but if you assign him as an envoy to some neighboring state and he can’t give his answers unassisted, then no matter how many odes he might know, what good is he?

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