Way - Confucian Pages

Analects 13.21

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Thirteen

Original Text:

子曰不得中行而与之必也狂狷乎狂者进取狷者有所不为也

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The Master said, “If you cannot manage to find a person of perfectly balanced conduct to associate with, I suppose you must settle for the wild or the fastidious. In their pursuit of the Way, the wild plunge right in, while the fastidious are always careful not to get their hands dirty.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, If you can’t get someone to work with whose actions follow the mean, then you must choose between the assertive and the cautious. The assertive will forge ahead decisively. The cautious can be trusted to have things that they will not do.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 12.19

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Twelve

Original Text:

季康子问政于孔子曰如杀无道以就有道何如孔子对曰子为政焉用杀子欲善而民善矣君子之德风小人之德草草上之风必偃

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Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about governing, saying, “If I were to execute those who lacked the Way in order to advance those who possessed the Way, how would that be?”
Confucius responded, “In your governing, Sir, what need is there for executions? If you desire goodness, then the common people will be good. The Virtue of a gentleman is like the wind, and the Virtue of a petty person is like the grass—when the wind moves over the grass, the grass is sure to bend.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about government, saying, If I kill those who don’t follow the Way, and thereby encourage those who do follow the Way, how would that be?
Confucius replied, Your task is to govern. What need is there for killing? If you desire goodness, the common people will be good. The virtue of the gentleman is like the wind; the virtue of the petty people like the grass. When the wind blows over the grass, surely it will bend.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 8.13

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

子曰笃信好学守死善道危邦不入乱邦不居天下有道则见无道则隐邦有道贫且贱焉耻也邦无道富且贵焉耻也

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The Master said, “Be sincerely trustworthy and love learning, and hold fast to the good Way until death. Do not enter a state that is endangered, and do not reside in a state that is disordered. If the Way is being realized in the world then show yourself; if it is not, then go into reclusion. In a state that has the Way, to be poor and of low status is a cause for shame; in a state that is without the Way, to be wealthy and honored is equally a cause for shame.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Entirely trustworthy, a lover of learning, faithful until death, exemplar of the Way, he never enters a state where there is peril, never remains in a state where there is disorder. When the Way prevails in the world, he appears; when the Way is lacking, he retires. When the state follows the Way, being poor and lowly is a cause for shame. When the state is without the Way, being rich and eminent is a cause for shame.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 8.4

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Eight

Original Text:

曾子有疾孟敬子问之曾子言曰鸟之将死其鸣也哀人之将死其言也善君子所贵乎道者三动容貌斯远暴慢矣正颜色斯近信矣出辞气斯远鄙倍矣笾豆之事则有司存

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Master Zeng was gravely ill, and Meng Jingzi came to inquire about his health.
Master Zeng said to him, “When a bird is about to die, its call is mournful and touching. When a person is about to die, his words should be heeded. There are three things that are important for a gentleman pursuing the Way: by altering his behavioral demeanor, he avoids violence and arrogance; by rectifying his countenance, he welcomes trustworthiness; and in his choice of words and tone of voice, he avoids vulgarity and impropriety. As for the details of handling sacrificial vessels, there are minor officials to deal with that.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When Master Zeng was ill, Meng Jing Zi asked how he was.
Master Zeng spoke these words: When a bird is about to die, its cries are sad. When a man is about to die, his words are good. With regard to the Way, there are three things the gentleman prizes: in his actions and manner, that he be far from harshness or arrogance; in ordering his appearance, that he stick close to trustworthiness; in his utterances, that they be far from crude or unseemly. As for the sacrificial baskets and stands, there are experts to tend to such matters.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 7.6

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seven

Original Text:

子曰志于道据于德依于仁游于艺

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Set your heart upon the Way, rely upon Virtue, lean upon Goodness, and explore widely in your cultivation of the arts.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Set your sights on the Way, base yourself on virtue, rely on humaneness, relax with the arts.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.24

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

子曰齐一变至于鲁鲁一变至于道

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “With a single change, Qi could measure up to Lu. With a single change, Lu could attain the Way.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, With one change, Qi could measure up to Lu. And with one change, Lu could measure up to the Way.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 6.17

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Six

Original Text:

子曰谁能出不由户何莫由斯道也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Who is able to leave a room without going out through the door? How is it, then, that no one follows this Way?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Who can go out of a house without using the door? Why does no one use this Way of mine?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

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:

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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 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

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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

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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.