Theft

Analects 17.23

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Original Text:

子路曰君子尚勇乎子曰君子义以为上君子有勇而无义为乱小人有勇而无义为盗

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zilu asked, “Does the gentleman admire courage?”

The Master said, “The gentleman admires rightness above all. A gentleman who possessed courage but lacked a sense of rightness would create political disorder, while a common person who possessed courage but lacked a sense of rightness would become a bandit.”

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

Zilu said, Does the gentleman esteem courage? The Master said, The gentleman holds rightness in highest esteem. A gentleman who possesses courage but lacks rightness will become rebellious. A petty man who possesses courage but lacks rightness will turn to thievery.

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

Analects 17.12

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Original Text:

子曰色厉而内荏譬诸小人其犹穿窬之盗也与

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “To assume a severe expression while being weak inside—is this not, to take an analogy from the common classes, like breaking into a home in order to commit burglary?”

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

The Master said, Stern in aspect but weak inside—look for his likeness among petty men, and it would be the thief who breaks through or climbs over walls.

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

Analects 13.18

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Original Text:

叶公语孔子曰吾党有直躬者其父攘羊而子证之孔子曰吾党之直者异于是父为子隐子为父隐直在其中矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Duke of She said to Confucius, “Among my people there is one we call ‘Upright Gong.’ When his father stole a sheep, he reported him to the authorities.”

Confucius replied, “Among my people, those who we consider ‘upright’ are different from this: fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers. ‘Uprightness’ is to be found in this.”

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

Talking with Confucius, the lord of She said, In our district there’s a fellow called Honest Body. When his father stole a sheep, the son testified against him.

Confucius said, In our district the honest people are different from that. A father covers up for his son; a son covers up for his father. There’s honesty in that, too.

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

Analects 12.18

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Original Text:

季康子患盗问于孔子孔子对曰苟子之不欲虽赏之不窃

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ji Kangzi was concerned about the prevalence of robbers in Lu and asked Confucius about how to deal with this problem.

Confucius said, “If you could just get rid of your own excessive desires, the people would not steal even if you rewarded them for it.”

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

Ji Kangzi was troubled by thieves and asked Confucius for advice. Confucius replied, If you had no desires, then, even if you offered prizes, no one would steal.

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