Virtue - Confucian Pages

Analects 6.12

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

冉求曰非不说子之道力不足也子曰力不足者中道而废今女画

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ran Qiu said, “It is not that I do not delight in your Way, Master, it is simply that my strength is insufficient.”
The Master said, “Someone whose strength is genuinely insufficient collapses somewhere along the Way. As for you, you deliberately draw the line.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Ran Qiu said, It’s not that I don’t delight in the Master’s Way, but I don’t have sufficient strength for it.
The Master said, Those whose strength is insufficient go at least halfway before giving up. But now you are setting limits for yourself.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.11

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

子曰贤哉回也一箪食一瓢饮在陋巷人不堪其忧回也不改其乐贤哉回也

Translation:

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The Master said, “What a worthy man was Yan Hui! Living in a narrow alley, subsisting on a basket of grain and gourd full of water—other people could not have born such hardship, yet it never spoiled Hui’s joy. What a worthy man was Hui!”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, What a fine man Hui was! One container of rice, one dipperful of drink, living in a back alley—others couldn’t have endured the gloom of it, but he never let it affect his happiness. What a fine man Hui was!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.16

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

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 5.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子曰道不行乘桴浮于海从我者其由与子路闻之喜子曰由也好勇过我无所取材

Translation:

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The Master said, “If the Way is not put into practice, I will set off upon the sea in a small raft. And the one who would follow me—would it not be Zilu?”
Upon hearing this, Zilu was happy.
The Master commented, “Zilu’s fondness for courage exceeds mine. But where can I find some really suitable material?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, The Way does not go forward—I’ll get on a raft and set out to sea! And the one who will go with me will be You (Zilu), will it not?
When Zilu heard this, he was delighted.
The Master said, You outdoes me in love of bravery, though he doesn’t always think where that may lead him.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 5.2

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Five

Original Text:

子谓南容邦有道不废邦无道免于刑戮以其兄之子妻之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said of Nan Rong, “When the state possesses the Way he will not be dismissed from office, and when the state is without the Way he will manage to avoid punishment or execution.” He gave the daughter of his elder brother to him in marriage.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

he Master said of Nan Rong, If the state is ruled by the Way, he will not be overlooked. If the state is not ruled by the Way, he will still stay clear of penalties and punishments.

And he gave him the daughter of his elder brother for a wife.

Analects 4.25

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Four

Original Text:

子曰德不孤必有邻

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Virtue is never solitary; it always has neighbors.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Virtue is not alone. It invariably has neighbors.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.26

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰居上不宽为礼不敬临丧不哀吾何以观之哉

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Someone who lacks magnanimity when occupying high office, who is not respectful when performing ritual, and who remains unmoved by sorrow when overseeing mourning rights – how could I bear to look upon such a person?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Standing above others but without tolerance, carrying out rites but without reverence, conducting funeral proceedings but without grief – how can I bear to view such as these?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.24

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

仪封人请见曰君子之至于斯也吾未尝不得见也从者见之出曰二三子何患于丧乎天下之无道也久矣天将以夫子为木铎

Translation:

Other Translations:

A border official from the town of Yi requested an audience with the Master, saying, “I have never failed to obtain an audience with the gentlemen who have passed this way.” Confucius’ followers thereupon presented him.
After emerging from the audience, the border official remarked, “You disciples, why should you be concerned about your master’s loss of office? The world has been without the Way for a long time now, and Heaven intends to use your Master like the wooden clapper for a bell.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The border guard of Yi requested an interview with Confucius, saying, When gentlemen pass this way, I never fail to have an interview with them.
The Master’s followers arranged a meeting. When the border guard emerged from the interview, he said, You young men should not worry about your present bad luck. For a long time now the world has been without the Way. Heaven is going to use your Master as a wooden-clappered bell.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.9

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Three

Original Text:

子曰夏礼吾能言之杞不足征也殷礼吾能言之宋不足征也文献不足故也足则吾能征之矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “As for the rites of the Xia Dynasty,, I can speak of them, but there is little remaining in the state of Qi to document them. As for the rites of the Shang Dynasty, I can speak of them, but there is little remaining in the state of Song to document them. This is because there is not much in way of culture or moral worthies left in either state. If there were something there, then I would be able to document them.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, As for the Xia rites, I could describe them, but the state of Qi can’t provide the proofs I need. As for the Yin rites, I could describe them, but the state of Song can’t provide the proofs I need.
This is due to the lack of records and persons of authority. If these were sufficient, I could prove my words.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 2.3

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

子曰道之以政齐之以刑民免而无耻道之以德齐之以礼有耻且格

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “If you try to guide the common people with coercive regulations and keep them in line with punishments, the common people will become evasive and will have no sense of shame. If, however, you guide them with Virtue, and keep them in line by means of ritual, the people will have a sense of shame and will rectify themselves.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Guide them with government orders, regulate them with penalties, and the people will seek to evade the law and be without shame. Guide them with virtue, regulate them with ritual, and they will have a sense of shame and become upright.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.