Analects 15.17

Original Text:

子曰群居终日言不及义好行小慧难矣哉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “People who can spend an entire day together indulging their predilection for petty cleverness, without their conversation ever once touching upon rightness—these are hard cases indeed!”

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

The Master said, Groups gathered together all day, not a word touching what is right, happy in carrying out their petty schemes—don’t look for much from them!

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