Wild

Analects 18.5

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Original Text:

楚狂接舆歌而过孔子曰凤兮凤兮何德之衰往者不可谏来者犹可追已而已而今之从政者殆而孔子下欲与之言趋而辟之不得与之言

Translation:

Other Translations:

Jieyu, the Madman of Chu, passed by Confucius singing a song:

“Oh phoenix! Oh phoenix!

Why has your Virtue so declined?

What is past is beyond remonstration,

But the future can still be pursued.

Give it up! Give it up!

Those who participate in government these days court nothing but danger.”

Confucius descended from his carriage and wished to speak with him, but Jieyu scurried away and avoided him. Therefore Confucius did not get to speak with him.

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

Jie Yu, the madman of Chu, passed by Confucius, singing these words:

Phoenix, phoenix,

how your virtue has ebbed away!

What’s past has gone beyond mending

but what’s to come is still within reach.

Leave off! Leave off!

Danger waits those who work at governing today!

Confucius got down from his carriage, hoping to speak with him, but the madman ran away and hid, and he was never able to speak to him.

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

Analects 17.16

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Original Text:

子曰古者民有三疾今也或是之亡也古之狂也肆今之狂也荡古之矜也廉今之矜也忿戾古之愚也直今之愚也诈而已矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “In ancient times, people had three type of faults, which have perhaps since disappeared. In ancient times, those who were wild were at least forthright; nowadays, they are simply deviant. In ancient times, those who were proud were at least principled; nowadays, they are simply belligerent and easily provoked. In ancient times, those who were stupid were at least upright; nowadays, they are simply devious.”

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

The Master said, In former times the common people had three weaknesses, but now even these seem to have largely disappeared. Assertive persons in the past were reckless; now they are downright overbearing. Firm-minded persons in the past were prudish; now they are testy and belligerent. Stupid persons in the past were at least upright; now all they do is try to deceive others.

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

Analects 8.16

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Original Text:

子曰狂而不直侗而不愿悾悾而不信吾不知之矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “People who are wild without at least being upright, simple-minded without at least being honest, or ingenuous without at least being trustworthy—I simply do not understand them.”

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

The Master said, Enthusiastic but not straightforward; naive but insincere; simple, guileless, but not to be trusted—such persons I do not understand.

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