Wind - Confucian Pages

Other Translations:

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 10.25

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Ten

Original Text:

见齐衰者虽狎必变见冕者与瞽者虽亵必以貌凶服者式之式负版者有盛馔必变色而作迅雷风烈必变

Translation:

Other Translations:

When he saw someone fasting or mourning, he invariably assumed a changed expression, even if they were an intimate acquaintance. When he saw someone wearing a ritual cap or a blind person, he would invariably display a respectful countenance, even if they were of low birth.
When riding past someone dressed in funeral garb, he would bow down and grasp the crossbar of his carriage. He would do so even if the mourner was a lowly peddler.
When presented food with full ritual propriety, he would invariably assume a solemn expression and rise from his seat.
He would also assume a solemn expression upon hearing a sudden clap of thunder or observing a fierce wind.
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

If the Master saw someone in deep mourning, even though it was a person he was familiar with, he always changed his attitude. If he saw someone in a ceremonial cap or a blind person, even someone he knew well, he invariably assumed an appropriate bearing.
If he saw a person in mourning, he bowed from the crossbar of his carriage, and he would likewise bow from his carriage to a person carrying population registers.
Confronted with a sumptuous feast, he invariably changed his expression and rose to his feet. At a sudden clap of thunder or a blast of wind, he would invariably change his posture.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.