Tiger - Confucian Pages

Other Translations:

Ji Zicheng said, “Being a gentleman is simply a matter of having the right native substance, and nothing else. Why must one engage in cultural refinement?”

Zigong replied, “It is regrettable, Sir, that you should speak of the gentleman in this way—as they say, ‘a team of horses cannot overtake your tongue.’

“A gentleman’s cultural refinement resembles his native substance, and his native substance resembles his cultural refinement. The skin of a tiger or leopard, shorn of its fur, is no different from the skin of a dog or sheep.”

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

Ji Zicheng said, The gentleman should have solid qualities and that’s enough. What need is there for refinement?

Zigong said, Regrettable indeed—what you have said, sir, about the gentleman! Refinement is equal in worth to solid qualities, and solid qualities to refinement. Strip the hide of a tiger or a panther of its [patterned fur], and it is no different from that of a dog or a goat.

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

Analects 7.11

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seven

Original Text:

子谓颜渊曰用之则行舍之则藏惟我与尔有是夫子路曰子行三军则谁与子曰暴虎冯河死而无悔者吾不与也必也临事而惧好谋而成者也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master remarked to Yan Hui, “It is said, ‘When he is employed, he moves forward; when he is removed from office, he holds himself in reserve.’ Surely this applies only to you and me?”
Zilu interposed, “If you, Master, were to lead the three armies into battle, who would you want by your side?”
The Master replied, “I would not want by my side the kind of person who would attack a tiger barehanded or attempt to swim the Yellow River, because he was willing to ‘die without regret.’ Surely I would want someone who approached such undertakings with a proper sense of trepidation, and who came to a decision only after having thoroughly considered the matter.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said to Yan Yuan, When needed, to act; when cast aside, to retire—only you and I know how to do that—isn’t that so?
Zilu said, If you, Master, were directing the Three Armies, who would you take with you?
The Master said, Someone who faces a tiger bare-handed or wades the Yellow River, going to his death with no regrets—I wouldn’t take anyone like that. If I must answer, then I’d take someone who directs affairs in a mood of apprehension, who plans carefully and thereby succeeds.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.