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Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

The Master said,Can I herd with birds and beasts? he said. Whom but these men can I take as fellows? And if the Way were kept by all below heaven, I should not need to change them.

微子第十八

BOOK XVIII

1. 微子去之,箕子為之奴,比干諫而死。孔子曰:「殷有三仁焉!」

The lord of Wei left, the lord of Chi was made a slave, Pi-kan spake out, and died. Confucius said, Three of the Yin had love.

2. 柳下惠為士師,三黜。人曰:「子未可以去乎?」曰:「直道而事人,焉往而不三黜 !枉道而事人,何必去父母之邦!」

Whilst Liu-hsia Hui was Chief Knight he was dismissed thrice. Men said. Is it not yet time to leave. Sir? He answered, If I serve men the straight way, where can I go without being dismissed thrice? If I am to serve men the crooked way, why should I leave the land of my father and mother?

3. 齊景公待孔子曰:「若季氏則吾不能,以季、孟之間待之。」曰:「吾老矣。不能 用也。」孔子行。

Speaking of how to treat Confucius, Ching, Duke of Ch'i, said, I cannot treat him as I do the Chi. I put him between Chi and Meng. I am old, he said; I cannot use him. Confucius left.

4. 齊人歸女樂,季桓子受之,三日不朝,孔子行。

The men of Ch'I sent a gift of music girls. Chi Huan accepted them, and for three days no court was held. Confucius left.

5. 楚狂接輿,歌而過孔子曰:「鳳兮!鳳兮!何德之衰?往者不可諫,來者猶可追。 已而!已而!今之從政者殆而!」孔子下,欲與之言。趨而辟之,不得與之言。

Chieh-yü, the mad-head of Ch'u, as he passed Confucius, sang, Phoenix, bright phoenix,Thy glory is ended!Think of to-morrow;The past can't be mended.Up and away!The Court is todayWith danger attended. Confucius alighted, for he wished to speak with him: but he hurried away, and he could not speak with him.

6. 長沮桀溺耦而耕。孔子過之,使子路問津焉。長沮曰:「夫執輿者為誰?」子路曰: 「為孔丘。」曰:「是魯孔丘與?」曰:「是也。」曰:「是知津矣!」問於桀溺,桀溺曰:「子為誰?」曰:「為仲由。」曰:「是魯孔丘之徒與?」對曰:「然。」曰:「滔滔者,天下皆是也,而誰以易之?且而與其從辟人之士也,豈若從辟世之士哉?」耰而不輟。子路行以告,夫子憮然曰:「鳥獸不可與同群,吾非斯人之徒與而誰與?天下有道,丘不與易也。」

Ch'ang-chü and Chieh-ni were working in the fields. As Confucius passed them, he sent Tzu-lu to ask for the ford. Ch'ang-chü said, Who is that holding the reins? He is K'ung Ch'iu, said Tzu-lu. Is he K'ung Ch'iu of Lu? Yes, said Tzu-lu. He knows the ford, said Ch'ang-chü. Tzu-lu asked Chieh-ni. Who are ye, Sir? he answered. I am Chung Yu. The disciple of K'ung Ch'iu of Lu? Yes, he answered. All below heaven is seething and boiling, said Chieh-ni, who can change it? How much better would it be to follow a knight that flees the world than to follow a knight that flees persons! And he went on hoeing without stop. Tzu-lu went and told the Master, whose face fell. Can I herd with birds and beasts? he said. Whom but these men can I take as fellows? And if the Way were kept by all below heaven, I should not need to change them.

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

The Master said, I hate those that take spying for wisdom, who take want of manners for courage, and take tale-telling for honesty.

陽貨第十七

BOOK XVII

17. 子曰:「巧言令色鮮矣仁。」

The Master said, Smooth words and fawning looks are seldom found with love.

18. 子曰:「惡紫之奪朱也,惡鄭聲之亂雅樂也,惡利口之覆邦家者。」

The Master said, I hate the ousting of scarlet by purple. I hate the strains of Cheng, confounders of sweet music. I hate a sharp tongue, the ruin of kingdom and home.

19. 子曰:「予欲無言!」子貢曰:「子如不言,則小子何述焉?」子曰:「天何言哉! 四時行焉,百物生焉,天何言哉?」

The Master said, I wish no word were spoken! Tzu-kung said, Sir, if ye said no word, what could your little children write? The Master said, What are the words of Heaven? The four seasons pass, the hundred things bear life. What are the words of Heaven?

20. 孺悲欲見孔子,孔子辭以疾,將命者出戶,取瑟而歌,使之聞之。

Ju Pei wished to see Confucius. Confucius pleaded sickness; but, as the messenger left his door, he took a lute and sang, so the messenger should hear.

21. 宰我問:「三年之喪,期已久矣!君子三年不為禮,禮必壞;三年不為樂,樂必崩。 舊穀既沒,新穀既升;鑽燧改火,期可已矣。」子曰:「食夫稻,衣夫錦,於女安乎?」曰:「安!」「女安則為之。夫君子之居喪,食旨不甘,聞樂不樂,居處不安,故不為也。今女安,則為之。」宰我出。子曰:「予之不仁也!子生三年,然後免於父母之懷。夫三年之喪,天下之通喪也;予也,有三年之愛於其父母乎?」

Tsai Wo asked about mourning for three years. He thought that one was enough. If for three years gentlemen forsake courtesy, courtesy must suffer. If for three years they forsake music, music must decay. The old grain passes, the new grain sprouts, the round of woods for the fire-drill is ended in one year. The Master said, Feeding on rice, clad in brocade, couldst thou be at rest? I could, he answered. Then do what gives thee rest. But a gentleman, when he is mourning, has no taste for sweets and no ear for music; he cannot rest in his home. So he gives these up. Now, they give thee rest; then keep them. After Tsai Wo had gone, the Master said, Yü's want of love! At the age of three a child first leaves the arms of his father and mother, and mourning lasts for three years everywhere below heaven. But did Yü have for three years the love of his father and mother?

22. 子曰:「飽食終日,無所用心,難矣哉!不有博弈者乎?為之猶賢乎已!」

The Master said, It is hard indeed when a man eats his fill all day, and has nothing to task the mind! Could he not play at chequers? Even that were better.

23. 子路曰:「君子尚勇乎?」子曰:「君子義以為上。君子有勇而無義為亂,小人有勇 而無義為盜。」

Tzu-lu said, Do gentlemen honour daring? They put right higher, said the Master. With daring and no sense of right gentlemen turn rebels and small men turn robbers.

24. 子貢曰:「君子亦有惡乎?」子曰:「有惡。惡稱人之惡者,惡居下流而訕上者,惡 勇而無禮者,惡果敢而窒者。」曰:「賜也亦有惡乎?」「惡徼以為知者,惡不孫以為勇者,惡訐以為直者。」

Tzu-kung said, Do gentlemen hate too? They do, said the Master. They hate the sounding of evil deeds; they hate men of low estate that slander those over them; they hate daring without courtesy; they hate men that are stout and fearless, but blind. And Tz'u, he said, dost thou hate too? I hate those that take spying for wisdom, who take want of manners for courage, and take tale-telling for honesty.

25. 子曰:「唯女子與小人為難養也!近之則不孫,遠之則怨。」

The Master said, Only maids and serving-lads are hard to train. If we draw near to them, they get unruly; if we hold them off, they grow spiteful.

26. 子曰:「年四十而見惡焉,其終也已。」

The Master said, When a man of forty is hated, he will be so to the end.

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

The Master said, Men of old had three failings, which have, perhaps, died out to-day. Ambitious men of old were not nice; now they are unprincipled. Stern men of old were hard; now they are quarrelsome. Ignorant men of old were straight; now they are false. That is all.

陽貨第十七

BOOK XVII

9. 子曰:「小子!何莫學夫詩?詩,可以興,可以觀,可以群,可以怨。邇之事父,遠 之事君,多識於鳥獸草木之名。」

The Master said, My little children, why do ye not learn poetry? Poetry would ripen you; teach you insight, friendliness and forbearance; show you how to serve your father at home; and teach your lord abroad; and it would teach you the names of many birds and beasts, plants and trees.

10. 子謂伯魚曰:「女為周南召南矣乎?人而不為周南,召南,其猶正牆面而立也與?」

The Master said to Po-yü, Hast thou done the Chou-nan and Shao-nan? He that has not done the Chou-nan and Shao-nan is like a man standing with his face to the wall.

11. 子曰:「禮云禮云,玉帛云乎哉?樂云樂云,鐘鼓云乎哉?」

The Master said, 'Courtesy, courtesy,' is the cry; but are jade and silk the whole of courtesy? 'Music, music,' is the cry; but are bells and drums the whole of music?

12. 子曰:「色厲而內荏,譬諸小人,其猶穿窬之盜也與。」

The Master said, Fierce looks and weakness within are like the small man, like the thief that breaks through or clambers over a wall.

13. 子曰:「鄉原,德之賊也。」

The Master said, The plain townsman is the bane of mind.

14. 子曰:「道聽而塗說,德之棄也。」

The Master said, To tell unto the dust all that we hear upon the way is to lay waste the mind.

15. 子曰:「鄙夫可與事君也與?其未得之也,患得之;既得之,患失之。苟患失之,無 所不至矣!」

The Master said, How can we serve the king with a low fellow, who is itching to get what he wants and trembling to lose what he has? This trembling to lose what he has may lead him anywhere.

16. 子曰:「古者民有三疾,今也或是之亡也。古之狂也肆,今之狂也蕩;古之矜也廉, 今之矜也忿戾;古之愚也直,今之愚也詐而已矣。」

The Master said, Men of old had three failings, which have, perhaps, died out to-day. Ambitious men of old were not nice; now they are unprincipled. Stern men of old were hard; now they are quarrelsome. Ignorant men of old were straight; now they are false. That is all.

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

Confucius said, Love is to mete out five things to all below heaven: Modesty and bounty, truth, earnestness and kindness. Modesty escapes insult: bounty wins the many; truth gains men's trust; earnestness brings success; and kindness is enough to make men work.

陽貨第十七

BOOK XVII

1. 陽貨欲見孔子,孔子不見,歸孔子豚。孔子時其亡也,而往拜之。遇諸塗。謂孔子曰: 「來!予與爾言。」曰:「懷其寶而迷其邦,可謂仁乎?」曰:「不可。」「好從事而亟失時,可謂知乎?」曰:「不可。」「日月逝矣!歲不我與!」孔子曰:「諾,吾將仕矣!」

Yang Huo wished to see Confucius. Confucius did not go to see him. He sent Confucius a sucking pig. Confucius chose a time when he was out, and went to thank him. They met on the road. He said to Confucius, Come, let us speak together. To cherish a gem, and undo the kingdom, can that be called love? It cannot, said Confucius. To love office, and miss the hour again and again, can that be called wisdom? It cannot, said Confucius. The days and months go by; the years do not wait for us. True, said Confucius; I must take office.

2. 子曰:「性相近也,習相遠也。」

The Master said, Men are near to each other by nature; the lives they lead sunder them.

3. 子曰:「唯上知與下愚不移。」

The Master said, Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.

4. 子之武城,聞弦歌之聲,夫子莞爾而笑曰:「割雞焉用牛刀?」子游對曰:「昔者, 偃也聞諸夫子曰:『君子學道則愛人,小人學道則易使也。』」子曰:「二三子!偃之言是也,前言戲之耳!」

As the Master came to Wu-ch'eng he heard sounds of lute and song. Why use an ox-knife to kill a fowl? said the Master, with a pleased smile. Tzu-yu answered, Master, once I heard you say, A gentleman that has learnt the Way loves men; small folk that have learnt the Way are easy to rule. My two-three boys, said the Master, what Yen says is true. I spake before in play.

5. 公山弗擾以費叛,召,子欲往。子路不說,曰:「末之也已,何必公山氏之之也?」 子曰:「夫召我者,而豈徒哉?如有用我者,吾其為東周乎!」

Kung-shan Fu-jao held Pi in rebellion. He called the Master, who wished to go. Tzu-lu said in displeasure. This cannot be! why must ye go to Kung-shan? The Master said, He calls me, and would that be all? Could I not make an Eastern Chou of him that uses me?

6. 子張問「仁」於孔子。孔子曰:「能行五者於天下,為仁矣。」「請問之?」曰: 「恭、寬、信、敏、惠。恭則不侮,寬則得眾,信則人任焉,敏則有功,惠則足以使人。」

Tzu-chang asked Confucius what is love. Confucius said, Love is to mete out five things to all below heaven. May I ask what they are? Modesty and bounty, said Confucius, truth, earnestness and kindness. Modesty escapes insult: bounty wins the many; truth gains men's trust; earnestness brings success; and kindness is enough to make men work.

7. 佛肸召,子欲往。子路曰:「昔者由也聞諸夫子曰:『親於其身為不善者,君子不入 也』。佛肸以中牟畔,子之往也,如之何?」子曰:「然,有是言也。不曰堅乎?磨而不磷;不曰白乎?涅而不緇。吾豈匏瓜也哉?焉能繫而不食!」

Pi Hsi called the Master, who wished to go. Tzu-lu said, Master, I heard you say once, To men whose own life is evil, no gentleman will go. Pi Hsi holds Chung-mou in rebellion; how could ye go to him, Sir? Yes, I said so, answered the Master. But is not a thing called hard that cannot be ground thin; white, if steeping will not turn it black? And am I a gourd? Can I hang without eating?

8. 子曰:「由也,女聞六言六蔽矣乎?」對曰:「未也。」「居!吾語女。好仁不好學, 其蔽也愚;好知不好學,其蔽也蕩;好信不好學,其蔽也賊;好直不好學,其蔽也絞;好勇不好學,其蔽也亂;好剛不好學,其蔽也狂。」

The Master said, Hast thou heard the six words, Yu, and the six they sink into? \ He answered. No. Sit down, and I shall tell thee. The thirst for love, without love of learning, sinks into simpleness. Love of knowledge, without love of learning, sinks into vanity. Love of truth, without love of learning, sinks into cruelty. Love of straightness, without love of learning, sinks into rudeness. Love of daring, without love of learning, sinks into turbulence. Love of strength, without love of learning, sinks into oddity.

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

Confucius said, There are three delights that do good, and three that do us harm. Those that do good are delight in dissecting good form and music, delight in speaking of the good in men, and delight in having many worthy friends. Those that do harm are proud delights, delight in idle roving, and delight in the joys of the feast.

季氏第十六

BOOK XVI

1. 季氏將伐顓臾。冉有季路見於孔子曰:「季氏將有事於顓臾。」孔子曰:「求,無乃 爾是過與?夫顓臾,昔者先王以為東蒙主,且在邦域之中矣,是社稷之臣也,何以伐為?」冉有曰:「夫子欲之;吾二臣者,皆不欲也。」孔子曰:「求,周任有言曰:『陳力就列,不能者止。』危而不持,顛而不扶,則將焉用彼相矣?且爾言過矣。虎兕出於柙,龜玉毀於櫝中,是誰之過與?」冉有曰:「今夫顓臾,固而近於費,今不取,後世必為子孫憂。」孔子曰:「求,君子疾夫舍曰『欲之』,而必為之辭。丘也聞,有國有家者,不患寡而患不均,不患貧而患不安。蓋均無貧,和無寡,安無傾。夫如是,故遠人不服,則修文德以來之。既來之,則安之。今由與求也,相夫子,遠人不服而不能來也,邦分崩離析,而不能守也,而謀動干戈於邦內,吾恐季孫之憂,不在顓臾,而在蕭牆之內也!」

The Chi was about to make war on Chuan-yü. When Confucius saw Jan Yu and Chi-lu, they said to him, The Chi is going to deal with Chuan-yü.

Confucius said, After all, Ch'iu, art thou not in the wrong? The kings of old made Chuan-yü lord of Tung Meng. Moreover, as Chuan-yü is inside our borders it is the liege of the spirits of earth and corn of our land; so how can ye make war upon it? Jan Yu said, Our master wishes it. Tzu-lu and I, his two ministers, do not, either of us, wish it.

Confucius said, Ch'iu, Chou Jen used to say, 'He that can put forth his strength takes his place in the line; he that cannot stands back.' Who would take to help him a man that is no stay in danger and no support in falling? Moreover, what thou sayest is wrong. If a tiger or a buffalo escapes from his pen, if tortoiseshell or jade is broken in its case, who is to blame?

Jan Yu said, But Chuan-yü is now strong, and it is near to Pi; if it is not taken now, in days to come it will bring sorrow on our sons and grandsons. Ch'iu, said Confucius, instead of saying 'I want it,' a gentleman hates to plead that he needs must. I have heard that fewness of men does not vex a king or a chief, but unlikeness of lot vexes him. Poverty does not vex him, but want of peace vexes him. For if wealth were even, no one would be poor. In harmony is number; peace prevents a fall. Thus, if far off tribes will not submit, bring them in by encouraging mind and art, and when they come in give them peace. But now, when far off tribes will not submit, ye two, helpers of your lord, cannot bring them in. The kingdom is split and falling, and ye cannot save it. Yet inside our land ye plot to move spear and shield! The sorrows of Chi's grandsons will not rise in Chuan-yü, I fear: they will rise within the palace wall.

2. 孔子曰:「天下有道,則禮樂征伐自天子出;天下無道,則禮樂征伐自諸侯出。自諸 侯出,蓋十世希不失矣;自大夫出,五世希不失矣。陪臣執國命,三世希不失矣。天下有道,則政不在大夫。天下有道,則庶人不議。」

Confucius said, When the Way is kept below heaven, courtesy, music and punitive wars flow from the Son of heaven. When the Way is lost below heaven, courtesy, music and punitive wars flow from the great vassals. When they flow from the great vassals they will rarely last for ten generations. When they flow from the great ministers they will rarely last for five generations. When underlings sway the country's fate they will rarely last for three generations. When the Way is kept below heaven power does not lie with the great ministers. When the Way is kept below heaven common folk do not argue.

3. 孔子曰:「祿之去公室五世矣,政逮於大夫四世矣。故夫三桓之子孫微矣。」 Confucius said, For five generations its income has passed from the ducal house; for four generations power has lain with the great ministers: and humbled, therefore, are the sons and grandsons of the three Huan.

4. 孔子曰:「益者三友,損者三友。友直,友諒,友多聞,益矣。友便辟,友善柔,友 便佞,損矣。」

Confucius said, There are three friends that help us, and three that do us harm. The friends that help us are a straight friend, an outspoken friend, and a friend that has heard much. The friends that harm us are plausible friends, friends that like to flatter, and friends with a glib tongue.

5. 孔子曰:「益者三樂,損者三樂。樂節禮樂,樂道人之善,樂多賢友,益矣。樂驕樂 ,樂佚遊,樂宴樂,損矣。」

Confucius said, There are three delights that do good, and three that do us harm. Those that do good are delight in dissecting good form and music, delight in speaking of the good in men, and delight in having many worthy friends. Those that do harm are proud delights, delight in idle roving, and delight in the joys of the feast.

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

The Master said, What wisdom has got will be lost again, unless love hold it fast. Wisdom to get and love to hold fast, without dignity of bearing, will not be honoured among men. Wisdom to get, love to hold fast and dignity of bearing, without courteous ways are not enough.

衛靈公第十五

BOOK XV

31. 子曰:「君子謀道不謀食。耕也,餒在其中矣;學也,祿在其中矣。君子憂道不憂 貧。」

The Master said, A gentleman thinks of the Way; he does not think of food. Sow, and famine may follow; learn, and pay may come; but a gentleman grieves for the Way; to be poor does not grieve him.

32. 子曰:「知及之,仁不能守之,雖得之,必失之。知及之,仁能守之,不莊以 之,則民不敬。知及之,仁能守之,莊以 之,動之不以禮,未善也。」

The Master said, What wisdom has got will be lost again, unless love hold it fast. Wisdom to get and love to hold fast, without dignity of bearing, will not be honoured among men. Wisdom to get, love to hold fast and dignity of bearing, without courteous ways are not enough.

33. 子曰:「君子不可小知,而可大受也。小人不可大受,而可小知也。」

The Master said, A gentleman has no small knowledge, but he can carry out big things: the small man can carry out nothing big, but he may be knowing in small things.

34. 子曰:「民之於仁也,甚於水火。水火,吾見蹈而死者矣,未見蹈仁而死者也。」

The Master said, Love is more to the people than fire and water. I have seen men come to their death by fire and water: I have seen no man that love brought to his death.

35. 子曰:「當仁不讓於師。」

The Master said, When love is at stake yield not to an army.

36. 子曰:「君子貞而不諒。」

The Master said, A gentleman is consistent, not changeless.

37. 子曰:「事君敬其事而後其食。」

The Master said, A servant of the king honours his work, and puts food after it.

38. 子曰:「有教無類。」

The Master said, Learning knows no rank.

39. 子曰:「道不同,不相為謀。」

The Master said, Mingle not in projects with a man whose way is not thine.

40. 子曰:「辭,達而已矣!」

The Master said, The whole end of speech is to be understood.

41. 師冕見。及階,子曰:「階也!」及席,子曰:「席也!」皆坐,子告之曰:「某在 斯!某在斯!」師冕出,子張問曰:「與師言之道與?」子曰:「然,固相師之道也。」

When he saw the music-master Mien, the Master said, as they came to the steps, Here are the steps. On coming to the mat, he said, Here is the mat. When all were seated, the Master told him, He and he are here. After the music-master had gone, Tzu-chang said, Is this the way to speak to a music-master? The Master said, Surely it is the way to help a music-master.

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

The Master said, A gentleman is firm, not quarrelsome; a friend, not a partisan.

衛靈公第十五

BOOK XV

21. 子曰:「君子矜而不爭,群而不黨。」

The Master said, A gentleman is firm, not quarrelsome; a friend, not a partisan.

22. 子曰:「君子不以言舉人,不以人廢言。」

The Master said, A gentleman does not raise a man for his words, nor spurn the speech for the man.

23. 子貢問曰:「有一言而可以終身行之者乎?」子曰:「其怒乎!己所不欲,勿施於 人。」

Tzu-kung said, Is there one word by which we may walk till life ends? The Master said, Fellow-feeling, perhaps. Do not do unto others what thou wouldst not have done to thee.

24. 子曰:「吾之於人也,誰毀誰譽?如有所譽者,其有所試矣。斯民也,三代之所以直 道而行也。」

The Master said, Of the men that I meet, whom do I cry down, whom do I overpraise? Or, if I overpraise them, it is after testing them. It was owing to this people that the three lines of kings went the straight way.

25. 子曰:「吾猶及史之闕文也。有馬者,借人乘之,今亡已夫!」

The Master said, I have still known historians that would leave a gap in their text, and men that would lend a horse to another to ride. Now it is so no more.

26. 子曰:「巧言亂德,小不忍則亂大謀。」

The Master said, Cunning words confound the mind; petty impatience confounds great projects.

27. 子曰:「眾惡之,必察焉;眾好之,必察焉。」

The Master said, The hatred of the many must be looked into; the love of the many must be looked into.

28. 子曰:「人能弘道,非道弘人。」

The Master said, The man can exalt the Way: it is not the Way that exalts the man.

29. 子曰:「過而不改,是謂過矣!」

The Master said, The fault is to cleave to a fault.

30. 子曰:「吾嘗終日不食,終夜不寢,以思。無益,不如學也。」

The Master said, I have spent whole days without food and whole nights without sleep, thinking, and gained nothing by it. Learning is better.

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

The Master said, Right is the stuff of which a gentleman is made. Done with courtesy, spoken with humility, rounded with truth, right makes a gentleman.

衛靈公第十五

BOOK XV

11. 子曰:「人無遠慮,必有近憂。」

The Master said. Without thought for far off things, there shall be trouble near at hand.

12. 子曰:「已矣乎!吾未見好德如好色者也!」

The Master said, All is ended! I have seen no one that loves mind as he loves looks!

13. 子曰:「臧文仲,其竊位者與?知柳下惠之賢而不與立也。」

The Master said, Did not Tsang Wen filch his post? He knew the worth of Liu-hsia Hui, and did not stand by him.

14. 子曰:「躬自厚,而薄責於人,則遠怨矣!」

The Master said, By asking much of self and little of other men ill feeling is banished.

15. 子曰:「不曰:『如之何,如之何』者,吾末如之何也已矣?」

The Master said, Unless a man say, Would this do? Would that do? I can do nothing for him.

16. 子曰:「群居終日,言不及義,好行小慧,難矣哉!」

The Master said, When all day long there is no talk of right, and little wiles find favour, the company is in hard case.

17. 子曰:「君子義以為質,禮以行之,孫以出之,信以成之,君子哉!」

The Master said, Right is the stuff of which a gentleman is made. Done with courtesy, spoken with humility, rounded with truth, right makes a gentleman.

18. 子曰:「君子病無能焉,不病人之不己知也。」

The Master said, His shortcomings trouble a gentleman; to be unknown does not trouble him.

19. 子曰:「君子疾沒世而名不稱焉。」

The Master said, A gentleman fears that his name shall be no more heard when life is done.

20. 子曰:「君子求諸己,小人求諸人。」

The Master said, A gentleman asks of himself, the small man asks of others.

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

The Master said, A high will, or a loving heart, will not seek life at cost of love. To fulfil love they will kill the body.

衛靈公第十五

BOOK XV

1. 衛靈公問陳於孔子,孔子對曰:「俎豆之事,則嘗聞之矣;軍旅之事,未之學也。」 明日遂行。在陳絕糧。從者病,莫能興。子路慍見曰:「君子亦有窮乎?」子曰:「君子固窮,小人窮斯濫矣。」

Ling, Duke of Wei, asked Confucius about the line of battle. Confucius answered. Of the ritual of dish and platter I have heard somewhat: I have not learnt warfare. He left the next day. In Ch'en grain ran out. His followers were too ill to rise. Tzu-lu showed that he was put out. Has a gentleman to face want too? he said. Gentlemen have indeed to face want, said the Master. The small man, when he is in want, runs to excess.

2. 子曰:「賜也,女以予為多學而識之者與?」對曰:「然,非與?」曰:「非也!予 一以貫之。」

The Master said, Tz'u, dost thou not take me for a man that has learnt much and thought it over? Yes, he answered: is it not so? No, said the Master. I string all into one.

3. 子曰:「由,知德者鮮矣!」

The Master said, Yu, how few men know great-heartedness!

4. 子曰:「無為而治者,其舜也與!夫何為哉?恭己正南面而已矣。」

The Master said, To rule doing nothing, was what Shun did. For what is there to do? Self-respect and to set the face to rule, is all.

5. 子張問「行」。子曰:「言忠信,行篤敬,雖蠻貊之邦行矣;言不忠信,行不篤敬, 雖州里行乎哉?立則見其參於前也,在輿則見其倚於衡也,夫然後行!」子張書諸紳。

Tzu-chang asked how to get on. The Master said, Be faithful and true of word, plain and lowly in thy walk; thou wilt get on even in tribal lands. If thy words be not faithful and true, thy walk not plain and lowly, wilt thou get on even in thine own town? Standing, see these words ranged before thee; driving, see them written upon the yoke. Then thou wilt get on. Tzu-chang wrote them on his girdle.

6. 子曰:「直哉史魚!邦有道如矢,邦無道如矢。君子哉蘧伯玉!邦有道則仕,邦無道 則可卷而懷之。」

The Master said, Straight indeed was the historian Yü! Like an arrow whilst the land kept the Way; and like an arrow when it lost the Way! What a gentleman was Ch'ü Po-yü! Whilst the land kept the Way he took office, and when the land had lost the Way he rolled himself up in thought.

7. 子曰:「可與言而不與之言,失人;不可與言而與之言,失言。知者不失人,亦不 失言。」

The Master said, Not to speak to him that has ears to hear is to spill the man. To speak to a man without ears to hear is to spill thy words. Wisdom spills neither man nor words.

8. 子曰:「志士仁人,無求生以害仁,有殺身以成仁。」

The Master said, A high will, or a loving heart, will not seek life at cost of love. To fulfil love they will kill the body.

9. 子貢問為仁。子曰:「工欲善其事,必先利其器。居是邦也,事其大夫之賢者,友其 士之仁者。」

Tzu-kung asked how to attain to love. The Master said, A workman bent on good work must first sharpen his tools. In the land that is thy home, serve those that are worthy among the great and make friends with loving knights.

10. 顏淵問為邦。子曰:「行夏之時,乘殷之輅,服周之冕。樂則韶舞,放鄭聲,遠佞人 。鄭聲淫,佞人殆。」

Yen Yüan asked how to rule a kingdom. The Master said, Follow the Hsia seasons, drive in the chariot of Yin, wear the head-dress of Chou, take for music the Shao and its dance. Banish the strains of Cheng and flee men that are glib; for the strains of Cheng are wanton and glib speakers are dangerous.

Author: Confucius (孔夫子); translated by James Legge

The Master said, When those above love courtesy, the people are easy to lead.

憲問第十四

BOOK XIV

41. 子路宿於石門。晨門曰:「奚自?」子路曰:「自孔氏。」曰:「是知其不可而為之 者與?」

Tzu-lu spent a night at Shih-men. The gate-keeper asked him, Whence comest thou? From Confucius, answered Tzu-lu. The man that knows it is no good and yet must still be doing? said the gate-keeper.

42. 子擊磬於衛。有荷蕢而過孔氏之門者,曰:「有心哉,擊磬乎!」既而曰:「鄙哉, 硜硜乎!莫己知也,斯已而已矣!『深則厲,淺則揭。』」子曰:「果哉!末之難矣!」

When the Master was chiming his sounding stones in Wei, a basket-bearer said, as he passed the door, The heart is full that chimes those stones! But then he said, For shame! What a tinkling sound! If no one knows thee, have done! Wade the deep places, Lift thy robe through the shallows! The Master said, Where there's a will, that is nowise hard.

43. 子張曰:「書云:『高宗諒陰,三年不言』何謂也?」子曰:「何必高宗?古之人 皆然。君薨,百官總已以聽於冢宰三年。」

Tzu-chang said, What does the Book mean by saying that Kao-tsung in his mourning shed did not speak for three years? Why pick out Kao-tsung? said the Master. The men of old were all thus. For three years after their lord had died, the hundred officers did each his duty and hearkened to the chief minister.

44. 子曰:「上好禮,則民易使也。」

The Master said, When those above love courtesy, the people are easy to lead.

45. 子路問「君子」。子曰:「修己以敬。」曰:「如斯而已乎?」曰:「修己以安人。 」曰:「如斯而已乎?」曰:「修己以安百姓。修己以安百姓,堯舜其猶病諸。」

Tzu-lu asked, What makes a gentleman? The Master said, To be bent on becoming better. Is that all? said Tzu-lu. By becoming better to bring peace to men. And is that all? By becoming better to bring peace to all men, said the Master. Even Yao and Shun were still struggling to become better, and so bring peace to all men.

46. 原壤夷俟。子曰:「幼而不孫弟,長而無述焉,老而不死是為賊。」以杖叩其脛。

Yüan Jang awaited the Master squatting. Unruly when young, unmentioned as man, undying when old, spells good-for-nothing! said the Master, and he hit him on the leg with his staff.

47. 闕黨,童子將命。或問之曰:「益者與?」子曰:「吾見其居於位也,見其與先生並 行也;非求益者也,欲速成者也。」

When a lad from the village of Ch'üeh was made messenger, someone asked, saying, Is it because he is doing well? The Master said, I have seen him sitting in a man's seat, and seen him walking abreast of his elders. He does not try to do well: he wishes to be quickly grown up.

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