Virtuous - Confucian Pages

Analects 7.15

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seven

Original Text:

冉有曰夫子为卫君乎子贡曰诺吾将问之入曰伯夷叔齐何人也曰古之贤人也曰怨乎曰求仁而得仁又何怨出曰夫子不为也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Ran Qiu was wondering out loud, “Does the Master support the Duke of Wei?”
Zigong replied, “Well, I will go ask him.”
He went in to see the Master, and said, “What sort of people were Bo Yi and Shu Qi?”
The Master replied, “They were ancient worthies.”
“Did they harbor any regrets?”
“They pursued Goodness and attained Goodness, what regrets could they possible have?”
Zigong emerged and reported to the other disciples, “The Master does not support him.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Ran You said, Will our Master side with the ruler of Wei? Zigong said, Very well, I’ll go and ask him.
Entering the Master’s room, Zigong said, What sort of men were Bo Yi and Shu Qi?
The Master said, Worthy men of antiquity.
Did they harbor rancor?
They sought to behave humanely, and they succeeded in doing so. Why would they harbor rancor?
When Zigong emerged from the room, he said, Our Master will not side with the ruler of Wei.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

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 1.14

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book One

Original Text:

子曰君子食无求饱居无求安敏于事而慎于言就有道而正焉可谓好学也已

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The gentleman is not motivated by the desire for a full belly or a comfortable abode. He is simply scrupulous in behavior and careful in speech, drawing near to those who possess the Way in order to be set straight by them. Surely this and nothing else is what it means to love learning.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, A gentleman when he eats doesn’t try to stuff himself, when he chooses a dwelling is not overly concerned about comfort. He is attentive to affairs, careful of his words, and looks to those who have the Way to correct himself. He’s the kind who can be called a lover of learning.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 1.7

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book One

Original Text:

子夏曰贤贤易色事父母能竭其力事君能致其身与朋友交言而有信虽曰未学吾必谓之学矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zixia said, “Imagine someone who recognizes and admires worthiness and therefore changes his lustful nature, who is able to fully exhaust his strength in serving his parents and extend himself to the utmost in serving his lord, and who is trustworthy in speech when interacting with friends and associates. Even if you said of such a person ‘Oh, but he is not learned,’ I would still insist that it is precisely such qualities that make on worthy of being called ‘learned.'”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zixia said, If he treats worthy persons as worthy and is respectful to them, does all in his power to serve his father and mother, gives his best in the service of the ruler, and in dealings with friends is faithful to his word, though some may say he lacks learning, I would surely call him learned!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.