Worthy - Confucian Pages

Analects 19.25

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Original Text:

陈子禽谓子贡曰子为恭也仲尼岂贤于子乎子贡曰君子一言以为知一言以为不知言不可不慎也夫子之不可及也犹天之不可阶而升也夫子之得邦家者所谓立之斯立道之斯行绥之斯来动之斯和其生也荣其死也哀如之何其可及也

Translation:

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Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, “You show reverence to Confucius, but how could he be more worthy than you?”
Zigong replied, “A gentleman can be judged wise or unwise on the basis of a single comment—this is why one cannot fail to be careful in one’s speech. One cannot equal the Master anymore than one can climb a stairway to the heavens. Had the Master acquired control of a state or noble family, then, as they say: ‘When he raised them up, they would stand; when he led them forward they would advance; when he comforted them they would come; and when he moved them they would become harmonious.’ His birth was glorious and his death was universally mourned. How could anyone equal him?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, You are being too modest. How could Zhongni be a worthier man than you?
Zigong said, The gentleman speaks one word and shows that he is wise, speaks one word and shows that he is unwise. Therefore, he must be careful how he speaks. Our Master can no more be equaled than one can mount a stairway to the sky. If our Master were to preside over a state or a powerful family, then, as the saying has it, If he raised them, they would stand; if he led, they would go forward; if he chose peace, they would flock around; if he moved, they would move in harmony. In life he is glorious; in death, deeply mourned. How, then, could he be equaled?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 19.24

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Original Text:

叔孙武叔毁仲尼子贡曰无以为也仲尼不可毁也他人之贤者丘陵也犹可逾也仲尼日月也无得而逾焉人虽欲自绝其何伤于日月乎多见其不知量也

Translation:

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Shusun Wushu was disparaging Confucius.
Zigong said, “It is pointless, Confucius cannot be disparaged. The worthiness of other people is like a hill or mound, in that one can still climb to the top of it. Confucius is like the sun and the moon—it is impossible to surmount him. Even if a person wished to cut himself off from their radiance, what harm could he do to the sun and the moon? All this would serve to show is that such a person did not know his limits.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

When Shusun Wushu spoke disparagingly of Zhongni, Zigong said, There’s no point in that. You can’t speak disparagingly of Zhongni. The worth of other persons is like a hill or knoll—you can still walk over it. But Zhongni is like the sun or the moon—no one can walk over them. Someone may decide to break off relations with the sun and moon, but what difference does that make to them? It only shows how little he understands his own capacity.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 19.23

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Original Text:

叔孙武叔语大夫于朝曰子贡贤于仲尼子服景伯以告子贡子贡曰譬之宫墙赐之墙也及肩窥见室家之好夫子之墙数仞不得其门而入不见宗庙之美百官之富得其门者或寡矣夫子之云不亦宜乎

Translation:

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Shusun Wushu remarked to his ministers at court, “Zigong is an even greater worthy than Confucius.” Zifu Jingbo reported this to Zigong.
Zigong replied, “Let us use the analogy of a residence surrounded by a wall. The walls around my residence are only shoulder-high, so people can look over them and see the beauty of the chambers and apartments within. The walls of the Master’s residence, on the other hand, are fifteen feet high. This means that, unless one is able to enter through the gate, one cannot see the fineness of the ancestral temples or the luxuriousness of the various offices. Those who have been able to enter through the gate are rather few, so it is not at all surprising that your master spoke as he did.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Shusun Wushu, speaking to the high officials at court, said, Zigong is a worthier man than Zhongni. Zifu Jingbo reported this to Zigong.
Zigong said, To use the simile of the wall surrounding a building, my wall is only shoulder-high, so you can get a good view of the living quarters inside. But Confucius’s wall is many feet high. Unless you enter by the gate, you can never see the beauty of the ancestral altar or the wealth of rooms for the hundred officials. And those who manage to enter that gate are likely to be few. So it’s not surprising that that gentleman said what he did.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 19.22

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Original Text:

卫公孙朝问于子贡曰仲尼焉学子贡曰文武之道未坠于地在人贤者识其大者不贤者识其小者莫不有文武之道焉夫子焉不学而亦何常师之有

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Gongsun Chao of Wei asked Zigong, “From whom did Confucius acquire his learning?”
Zigong replied, “The Way of Kings Wen and Wu has not yet fallen to the ground—it still exists in people. Those who are worthy understand its greater aspects, while those who are unworthy understand its lesser aspects. There is no one who does not have the Way of Wen and Wu within them. From whom did the Master not acquire his learning? And what need was there for him to have a formal teacher?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Gongsun Chao of Wei questioned Zigong, saying, Where did Zhongni (Confucius) study?
Zigong said, The Way of Wen and Wu has not yet disappeared completely. Among the populace, worthy men remember the essentials, and those of little worth remember the minor points. There are none who do not possess the Way of Wen and Wu, so how could our Master fail to study it? But how can you say he studied with any particular teacher?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 19.3

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Original Text:

子夏之门人问交于子张子张曰子夏云何对曰子夏曰可者与之其不可者拒之子张曰异乎吾所闻君子尊贤而容众嘉善而矜不能我之大贤与于人何所不容我之不贤与人将拒我如之何其拒人也

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The disciples of Zixia asked Zizhang about social relations.
Zizhang said, “What does Zixia have to say about this?”
They responded, “Zixia says, ‘Associate with those who are acceptable, and reject those who are unacceptable.’ ”
Zizhang said, “This is different from what I have learned. The gentleman treats the worthy people with reverence, and is tolerant of the masses; he praises excellence, but takes pity on those who are incapable. If I am truly a great worthy, what will I not tolerate in my dealings with others? If I am, in fact, unworthy, then people will reject me—what need is there for me to reject them?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

A disciple of Zixia asked Zizhang about personal relations. Zizhang said, What does Zixia say? The disciple replied, Zixia says, Associate with those who are fit to be associated with; reject those who are not.
Zizhang said, That’s different from what I’ve heard. The gentleman honors worthy persons and tolerates the multitude. He applauds good men and sympathizes with those who lack ability. Am I myself a person of great worth? If so, why shouldn’t I tolerate others? Am I a person who lacks worth? If so, others will reject me. What need is there for me to reject others?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.14

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Original Text:

子曰臧文仲其窃位者与知柳下惠之贤而不与立也

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “As for Zang Wenzhong, was he not a thief of official positions? He was aware of Liuxia Hui’s worthiness, and yet would not have him as a colleague.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Zang Wenzhong held high office unjustly, did he not? He knew that Liuxia Hui was a man of worth, but failed to elevate him to a position comparable to his own.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.31

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Original Text:

子曰不逆诈不亿不信抑亦先觉者是贤乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Not anticipating betrayal, nor expecting untrustworthiness, yet still being the first to perceive it—this is a worthy person indeed.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Do not be overly wary of deception; do not suspect others of bad faith. But he who is first to perceive the true situation is the wise one!
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 14.29

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Original Text:

子贡方人子曰赐也贤乎哉夫我则不暇

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zigong was given to criticizing others.
The Master remarked sarcastically, “What a worthy man that Zigong must be! As for me, I hardly have the time for this.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zigong was voicing his opinion of others. The Master said, How wise Si (Zigong) is! I’m afraid I don’t have time for that sort of thing.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.2

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Original Text:

仲弓为季氏宰问政子曰先有司赦小过举贤才曰焉知贤才而举之子曰举尔所知尔所不知人其舍诸

Translation:

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Zhonggong, who was serving as a steward for the Ji Family, asked the Master about governing.
The Master said, “First appoint your supervising officials, then overlook their petty faults and promote those who are worthy and talented.”
“How can I recognize those who are worthy and talented so that I can promote them?”
“Just promote the ones you know. As for those you do not know, will others allow them to be passed over?”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zhonggong, who was serving as steward to the Ji family, asked about government.
The Master said, Your first concern should be the officers in your employ. Excuse minor shortcomings, and promote those of outstanding talent.
How can I know those of outstanding talent in order to promote them?
The Master said, Promote those you know to be worthy. As for those you don’t know, will others fail to mention them?
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 9.23

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Original Text:

子曰后生可畏焉知来者之不如今也四十五十而无闻焉斯亦不足畏也已

Translation:

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The Master said, “We should look upon the younger generation with awe because how are we to know that those who come after us will not prove our equals? Once, however, a man reaches the age of forty or fifty without having learned anything, we can conclude from this fact alone that he is not worthy of being held in awe.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Respect those younger than yourself. How do you know that the coming generation may not prove as good as our present one? But if a person lives to forty or fifty and hasn’t been heard of, then he’s no longer worthy of respect.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.