Water

Analects 16.11

Original Text:

孔子曰见善如不及见不善如探汤吾见其人矣吾闻其语矣隐居以求其志行义以达其道吾闻其语矣未见其人也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Confucius said, “ ‘Seeing goodness, and striving for it urgently, as if never able catch up; seeing badness, and recoiling as if scalded by hot water’—I have seen such people, and have heard such words.”

“ ‘Dwelling in seclusion in order to pursue one’s aspirations, practicing rightness in order to realize the Way’—I have heard such words, but have yet to see such a person.”

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

Confucius said, He sees what is good and acts as though he could never attain it, sees what is not good and acts as though he had put his hand in scalding water—I’ve seen people like that and heard reports of their kind. He lives in seclusion in order to fulfill his aims, practices rightness in order to perfect his Way—I’ve heard reports of such people but never actually seen them.

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

Analects 15.35

Original Text:

子曰民之于仁也甚于水火水火吾见蹈而死者矣未见蹈仁而死者也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Goodness is even more vital to the common people than water or fire. I have seen people perish from walking through fire and water, but have never seen anyone perish by walking the path of Goodness.”

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

The Master said, Humaneness is more vital to the people than water or fire. I have seen people die from treading on water or fire, but I have never seen the person who died from treading the path of humaneness.

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

Analects 6.23

Original Text:

子曰知者乐水仁者乐山知者动仁者静知者乐仁者寿

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “The wise take joy in rivers, while the Good take joy in mountains. The wise are active, while the Good are still. The wise are joyful, while the Good are long-lived.”

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

The Master said, The wise delight in water; the humane delight in mountains. The wise move; the humane are still. The wise are happy; the humane live long.

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