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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.

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

The Master said, Never murmuring against Heaven, nor finding fault with men; learning from the lowest, cleaving the heights. I am known but to one, but to Heaven.

憲問第十四

BOOK XIV

31. 子貢方人。子曰:「賜也,賢乎哉?夫我則不暇!」

Tzu-kung would liken this man to that. The Master said, What talents Tz'u has! Now I have no time for this.

32. 子曰:「不患人之不己知,患其不能也。」

The Master said, Sorrow not at being unknown; sorrow for thine own shortcomings.

33. 子曰:「不逆詐,不億不信。抑亦先覺者,是賢乎?」

The Master said, Not to expect to be cheated, nor to look for falsehood, and yet to see them coming, shows worth in a man.

34. 微生畝謂孔子曰:「丘何為是栖栖者與?無乃為佞乎?」孔子曰:「非敢為佞也,疾 固也。」

Wei-sheng Mou said to Confucius, How dost thou still find roosts to roost on, Ch'iu, unless by wagging a glib tongue? Confucius answered, I dare not wag a glib tongue; but I hate stubbornness.

35. 子曰:「驥不稱其力,稱其德也。」

The Master said, A steed is not praised for his strength, but praised for his mettle.

36. 或曰:「以德報怨,何如?」子曰:「何以報德?以直報怨,以德報德。」

One said, To mete out good for evil, how were that? And how would ye meet good? said the Master. Meet evil with justice; meet good with good.

37. 子曰:「莫我知也夫!」子貢曰:「何為其莫知子也?」子曰:「不怨天,不尤人, 下學而上達。知我者,其天乎!」

The Master said, Alas! no man knows me! Tzu-kung said, Why do ye say, Sir, that no man knows you? The Master said, Never murmuring against Heaven, nor finding fault with men; learning from the lowest, cleaving the heights. I am known but to one, but to Heaven.

38. 公伯寮愬子路於季孫,子服景伯以告曰:「夫子固有惑志於公伯寮,吾力猶能肆諸市 朝。」子曰:「道之將行也與?命也!道之將廢也與?命也!公伯寮其如命何!」

Liao, the duke's uncle, spake ill of Tzu-lu to Chi-sun. Tzu-fu Ching-po told this to Confucius, saying, My master's mind is surely being led astray by the duke's uncle, but I have still the strength to expose his body in the market-place. The Master said, If the Way is to be kept, that is the Bidding, and if the Way is to be lost, this is the Bidding. What can the duke's uncle do against the Bidding?

39. 子曰:「賢者辟世,其次辟地,其次辟色,其次辟言。」

The Master said, Men of worth flee the world; the next best flee the land. Then come those that go at a look, then those that go at words.

40. 子曰:「作者七人矣!」

The Master said, Seven men did so.

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

The Master said, In the way of the gentleman there are three things that I cannot achieve. Love is never troubled; wisdom has no doubts; courage is without fear.

憲問第十四

BOOK XIV

16. 子曰:「晉文公譎而不正,齊桓公正而不譎。」

The Master said, Duke Wen of Chin was deep, but dishonest; Duke Huan of Ch'i was honest, but shallow.

17. 子路曰:「桓公殺公子糾,召忽死之,管仲不死。」曰:「未仁乎!」子曰:「桓公 九合諸侯,不以兵車,管仲之力也。如其仁!如其仁!」

Tzu-lu said, When Duke Huan slew the young duke Chiu, and Shao Hu died with him, but Kuan Chung did not, was not this want of love? The Master said, Duke Huan gathered the great vassals round him, not by chariots of war, but through the might of Kuan Chung. What can love do more? What can love do more?

18. 子貢曰:「管仲非仁者與?桓公殺公子糾,不能死,又相之。」子曰:「管仲相桓公 ,霸諸侯,一匡天下,民到于今受其賜。微管仲,吾其被髮左衽矣!豈若匹夫匹婦之為諒也,自經於溝瀆,而莫之知也!」

Tzu-kung said, When Duke Huan slew the young duke Chiu, and Kuan Chung could not face death and even became his minister, surely he showed want of love? The Master said, By Kuan Chung helping Duke Huan to put down the great vassals and make all below heaven one, men have fared the better from that day to this. But for Kuan Chung our hair would hang down our backs and our coats would button to the left; or should he, like the bumpkin and his lass, their troth to keep, have drowned in a ditch, unknown to anyone?

19. 公叔文子之臣大夫僎,與文子同升諸公。子聞之曰:「可以為文矣!」

The minister Hsien, who had been steward to Kung-shu Wen, went to audience of the Duke together with Wen. When the Master heard of it, he said, He is rightly called Wen (well-bred).

20. 子言衛靈公之無道也,康子曰:「夫如是,奚而不喪?」孔子曰:「仲叔圉治賓客, 祝鮀治宗廟,王孫賈治軍旅,夫如是,奚其喪?」

The Master spake of Ling Duke of Wei's contempt for the Way. K'ang said, If this be so, how does he escape ruin? Confucius answered, With Chung-shu Yü in charge of the guests, the reader T'o in charge of the Ancestral Temple, and Wang-sun Chia in charge of the troops, how should he come to ruin?

21. 子曰:「其言之不怍,則為之也難!」

The Master said, When words are unblushing, they are hard to make good.

22. 陳成子弒簡公。孔子沐浴而朝,告於哀公曰:「陳恒弒其君,請討之。」公曰:「告 夫三子。」孔子曰:「以吾從大夫之後,不敢不告也!」君曰:「告夫三子者!之三子告,不可。」孔子曰:「以吾從大夫子後,不敢不告也!」

Ch'en Ch'eng murdered Duke Chien. Confucius bathed, and went to court and told Duke Ai, saying, Ch'en Heng has murdered his lord: pray, punish him. The Duke said, Tell the three chiefs. Confucius said, As I follow in the wake of the ministers, I dared not leave this untold; but the lord says, Tell the three chiefs. He told the three chiefs. It did no good. Confucius said, As I follow in the wake of the ministers, I dared not leave this untold.

23. 子路問「事君」。子曰:「勿欺也,而犯之。」

Tzu-lu asked how to serve a lord. The Master said, Never cheat him; stand up to him.

24. 子曰:「君子上達,小人下達。」

The Master said, A gentleman's life leads upwards; the small man's life leads down.

25. 子曰:「古之學者為己,今之學者為人。」

The Master said, The men of old learned for their own sake; to-day men learn for show.

26. 蘧伯玉使人於孔子,孔子與之坐而問焉。曰:「夫子何為?」對曰:「夫子欲寡其過 而未能也。」使者出。子曰:「使乎!使乎!」

Ch'ü Po-yü sent a man to Confucius. As they sat together, Confucius asked him, What does your master do? He answered, My master wishes to make his faults fewer, but cannot. When the messenger had left, the Master said, A messenger, a messenger indeed!

27. 子曰:「不在其位,不謀其政。」

The Master said, When not in office discuss not policy.

28. 曾子曰:「君子思不出其位。」

Tseng-tzu said, Even in his thoughts, a gentleman does not outstep his place.

29. 子曰:「君子恥其言而過其行。」

The Master said, A gentleman is shamefast of speech: his deeds go further.

30. 子曰:「君子道者三,我無能焉:仁者不憂,知者不惑,勇者不懼。」子貢曰:「夫 子自道也!」

The Master said, In the way of the gentleman there are three things that I cannot achieve. Love is never troubled; wisdom has no doubts; courage is without fear. That is what ye say, Sir, said Tzu-kung.

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

The Master said, Whilst the land keeps the Way, be fearless of speech and fearless in deed; when the land has lost the Way, be fearless in deed but soft of speech.

憲問第十四

BOOK XIV

1. 憲問恥。子曰:「邦有道穀,邦無道穀,恥也。」

Hsien asked, What is shame? The Master said, To draw pay when the land keeps the Way and to draw pay when it has lost the Way, is shame.

2. 「克伐怨欲,不行焉,可以為仁矣。」子曰:「可以為難矣,仁則吾不知也。」

To eschew strife and bragging, spite and greed, would that be love? The Master said, That may be hard to do; but I do not know that it is love.

3. 子曰:「士而懷居,不足以為士矣!」

The Master said, A knight that is fond of ease does not amount to a knight.

4. 子曰:「邦有道,危言危行;邦無道,危行言孫。」

The Master said, Whilst the land keeps the Way, be fearless of speech and fearless in deed; when the land has lost the Way, be fearless in deed but soft of speech.

5. 子曰:「有德者必有言,有言者不必有德。仁者必有勇,勇者不必有仁。」

The Master said, A man of mind can always talk, but talkers are not always men of mind. Love is always bold, though boldness is found without love.

6. 南宮适問於孔子曰:「羿善射,奡盪舟,俱不得其死然。禹稷躬稼而有天下。」夫子 不答。南宮适出,子曰:「君子哉若人!尚德哉若人!」

Nan-kung Kuo said to Confucius, Yi shot well, Ao pushed a boat over land: each died before his time. Yü and Chi toiled at their crops, and had all below heaven. The Master did not answer. But when Nan-kung Kuo had gone, he said, What a gentleman he is! How he honours mind!

7. 子曰:「君子而不仁者有矣夫,未有小人而仁者也。」

The Master said, Alas! there have been gentlemen without love! But there has never been a small man that was not wanting in love.

8. 子曰:「愛之,能勿勞乎?忠焉,能勿誨乎?」

The Master said, Can he love thee that never tasks thee? Can he be faithful that never chides?

9. 子曰:「為命:裨諶草創之,世叔討論之,行人子羽修飾之,東里子產潤色之。」

The Master said, The decrees were drafted by P'i Shen, criticised by Shih-shu, polished by the Foreign Minister Tzu-yü, and given the final touches by Tzu-ch'an of Tung-li.

10. 或問「子產」,子曰:「惠人也。」問「子西」,曰:「彼哉彼哉!」問「管仲」, 曰:「人也,奪伯氏駢邑三百,飯疏食,沒齒無怨言。」

When he was asked what he thought of Tzu-ch'an, the Master said, A kind-hearted man. Asked what he thought of Tzu-hsi, the Master said, Of him! What I think of him! Asked what he thought of Kuan Chung, the Master said, He was the man that drove the Po from the town of Pien with its three hundred households to end his days on coarse rice, without his muttering a word.

11. 子曰:「貧而無怨難,富而無驕易。」

The Master said, Not to grumble at being poor is hard, not to be proud of wealth is easy.

12. 子曰:「孟公綽為趙魏老則優,不可以為滕薛大夫。」

The Master said, Meng Kung-ch'o is more than fit to be steward of Chao or Wei, but he could not be minister of T'eng or Hsieh.

13. 子路問「成人」。子曰:「若臧武仲之知,公綽之不欲,卞莊子之勇,冉求之藝,文 之以禮樂,亦可以為成人矣!」曰:「今之成人者,何必然?見利思義,見危授命,久要不忘平生之言,亦可以為成人矣!」

Tzu-lu asked what would make a full-grown man. The Master said, The wisdom of Tsang Wu-chung, Kung-ch'o's lack of greed, Chuang of Pien's boldness and the skill of Jan Ch'iu, graced by courtesy and music, might make a full-grown man. But now, he said, who asks the like of a full-grown man? He that in sight of gain thinks of right, who when danger looms stakes his life, who, though the bond be old, does not forget what he has been saying all his life, might make a full-grown man.

14. 子問「公叔文子」於公明賈,曰:「信乎?夫子不言不笑不取乎?」公明賈對曰:「 以告者過也!夫子時然後言,人不厭其言;樂然後笑,人不厭其笑;義然後取,人不厭其取。」子曰:「其然!豈其然乎?」

Speaking of Kung-shu Wen, the Master said to Kung-ming Chia, Is it true that thy master does not speak, nor laugh, nor take a gift? Kung-ming Chia answered, That is saying too much. My master only speaks when the time comes, so no one tires of his speaking; he only laughs when he is merry, so no one tires of his laughter; he only takes when it is right to take, so no one tires of his taking. It may be so, said the Master; but is it?

15. 子曰:「臧武仲以防,求為後於魯,雖曰不要君,吾不信也。」

The Master said, When he held Fang and asked Lu to appoint an heir, though Tsang Wu-chung said he was not forcing his lord, I do not believe it.

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

The Master said, Gentlemen unite, but are not the same. Small men are all the same, but each for himself.

16. 葉公問政。子曰:「近者說,遠者來。」

The Duke of She asked, What is kingcraft? The Master answered, For those near us to be happy and those far off to come.

17. 子夏為莒父宰問政。子曰:「無欲速,無見小利。欲速則不達,見小利則大事不成 。」

When he was governor of Chü-fu, Tzu-hsia asked how to rule. The Master said, Be not eager for haste; look not for small gains. Nothing done in haste is thorough, and looking for small gains big things are left undone.

18. 葉公語孔子曰:「吾黨有直躬者,其父攘羊而子證之。」孔子曰:「吾黨之直者異於 是,父為子隱,子為父隱,直在其中矣。」

The Duke of She told Confucius, Among the upright men of my clan if the father steals a sheep his son bears witness. Confucius answered, Our clan's uprightness is unlike that. The father screens his son and the son screens his father. There is uprightness in this.

19. 樊遲問仁。子曰:「居處恭,執事敬,與人忠,雖之夷狄,不可棄也。」

Fan Ch'ih asked, What is love? The Master said, To be humble at home, earnest at work, and faithful to all. Even among wild tribes none of this must be dropped.

20. 子貢問曰:「何如斯可謂之士矣?」子曰:「行己有恥,使於四方,不辱君命,可謂 士矣。」曰:「敢問其次?」曰:「宗族稱孝焉,鄉黨稱弟焉。」曰:「敢問其次?」曰:「言必信,行必果;硜硜然,小人哉!抑亦可以為次矣。」曰:「今之從政者何如?」子曰:「噫!斗筲之人,何足算也!」

Tzu-kung asked, What is it that we call knighthood? The Master said, To be called a knight, a man must be shame fast in all that he does, if he is sent to the four corners of the earth he must not disgrace his lord's commands. May I ask who would come next? He that his clansmen call a good son and his neighbours call modest. And who would come next? A man that clings to his word and sticks to his course, a flinty little fellow, would perhaps come next. And how are the crown servants of to-day? What! The weights and measures men! said the Master. Are they worth reckoning?

21. 子曰:「不得中行而與之,必也狂狷乎?狂者進取,狷者有所不為也。」

The Master said, As I cannot get men of the middle way I have to fall back on zealous and austere men. Zealous men push ahead and take things up, and there are things that austere men will not do.

22.子曰:「南人有言曰:『人而無恒,不可以作巫醫。』善夫!『不恒其德,或承之羞。』」子曰:「不占而已矣。」

The Master said, The men of the south have a saying, 'Unless he is stable a man will make neither a wizard nor a leech.' This is true. 'His instability of mind may disgrace him.' The Master said, Neglect of the omens, that is all.

23. 子曰:「君子和而不同,小人同而不和。」

The Master said, Gentlemen unite, but are not the same. Small men are all the same, but each for himself.

24. 子貢問曰:「鄉人皆好之,何如?」子曰:「未可也。」「鄉人皆惡之,何如?」子 曰:「未可也。不如鄉人之善者好之,其不善者惡之。」

Tzu-kung said, If the whole countryside loved a man, how would that be? It would not do, said the Master. And how would it be, if the whole countryside hated him? It would not do, said the Master. It would be better if all the good men of the countryside loved him and all the bad men hated him.

25. 子曰:「君子易事而難說也,說之不以道,不說也,及其使人也,器之。小人難事而 易說也,說之雖不以道,說也,及其使人也,求備焉。」

The Master said, A gentleman is easy to serve and hard to please. If we go from the Way to please him, he is not pleased; but his commands are measured to the man. A small man is hard to serve and easy to please. Though we go from the Way to please him, he is pleased; but he expects everything of his men.

26. 子曰:「君子泰而不驕,小人驕而不泰。」

The Master said, A gentleman is high-minded, not proud; the small man is proud, but not high-minded.

27. 子曰:「剛毅木訥,近仁。」

The Master said, Strength and courage, simplicity and modesty are akin to love.

28. 子路問曰:「何如斯可謂之士矣?」子曰:「切切偲偲,怡怡如也,可謂士矣。朋友 切切偲偲,兄弟怡怡。」

Tzu-lu asked, When can a man be called a knight? The Master said, To be earnest, encouraging and kind may be called knighthood: earnest and encouraging with his friends, and kind to his brothers.

29. 子曰:「善人教民七年,亦可以即戎矣。」

The Master said, If a good man taught the people for seven years, they would be fit to bear arms too.

30. 子曰:「以不教民戰,是謂棄之。」

The Master said, To take untaught men to war is called throwing them away.

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

The Master said, the man of upright life is obeyed before he speaks; commands even go unheeded when the life is crooked.

子路第十三

BOOK XIII

1. 子路問「政」。子曰:「先之,勞之。」請益。曰:「無倦。」

Tzu-lu asked how to rule. The Master said, Go before; work hard. When asked to say more, he said, Never flag.

2. 仲弓為季氏宰,問「政」。子曰:「先有司,赦小過,舉賢才。」曰:「焉知賢才而 舉之?」曰:「舉爾所知,爾所不知,人其舍諸!」

When he was steward of the Chi, Chung-kung asked how to rule. The Master said, Let officers act first; overlook small faults, lift up brains and worth. Chung-kung said, How shall I get to know brains and worth to lift them up? Lift up those thou dost know, said the Master; and those thou dost not know, will other men pass by?

3. 子路曰:「衛君待子而為政,子將奚先?」子曰:「必也正名乎!」子路曰:「有是 哉?子之迂也!奚其正?」子曰:「野哉,由也!君子於其所不知,蓋闕如也。名不正,則言不順;言不順,則事不成;事不成,則禮樂不興;禮樂不興,則刑罰不中;刑罰不中,則民無所措手足。故君子名之必可言也,言之必可行也。君子於其言,無所茍而已矣!」

Tzu-lu said, The lord of Wei waits for you, Sir, to govern. How shall ye begin? Surely, said the Master, by putting names right. Indeed, said Tzu-lu, that is far-fetched, Sir. Why put them right? What a savage Yu is! said the Master. A gentleman is tongue-tied when he does not understand. If names are not right, words do not fit. If words do not fit, affairs go wrong. If affairs go wrong, neither courtesy nor music thrive. If courtesy and music do not thrive, law and justice fail. And if law and justice fail them, the people can move neither hand nor foot. So a gentleman must be ready to put names into speech and words into deed. A gentleman is nowise careless of his words.

4. 樊遲請學稼,子曰:「吾不如老農。」請學為圃,曰:「吾不如老圃。」樊遲出, 子曰:「小人哉,樊須也!上好禮,則民莫敢不敬;上好義,則民莫敢不服;上好信,則民莫敢不用情。夫如是,則四方之民,襁負其子而至矣;焉用稼!」

Fan Ch'ih asked to be taught husbandry. The Master said. An old husbandman knows more than I do. He asked to be taught gardening. The Master said. An old gardener knows more than I do. After Fan Ch'ih had gone, the Master said, How small a man! If those above love courtesy, no one will dare to slight them; if they love right, no one will dare to disobey; if they love truth, no one will dare to hide the heart. Then, from the four corners of the earth, folk will gather with their children on their backs; and what need will there be for husbandry?

5. 子曰:「誦詩三百,授之以政,不達;使於四方,不能專對。雖多,亦奚以為?」

The Master said, Though a man have conned three hundred poems, if he stands helpless when put to govern, if he cannot answer for himself when he is sent to the four corners of the earth, many as they are, what have they done for him?

6. 子曰:「其身正,不令而行;其身不正,雖令不從。」

The Master said, The man of upright life is obeyed before he speaks; commands even go unheeded when the life is crooked.

7. 子曰:「魯衛之政,兄弟也。」

The Master said, The governments of Lu and Wei are brothers.

8. 子謂衛公子荊善居室:「始有,曰『苟合矣』;少有,曰『苟完矣』;富有,曰『苟 美矣。』」

Speaking of Ching, of the ducal house of Wei, the Master said, He was wise in his private life. When he had begun to save, he said, This seems enough. When he grew better off, he said, This seems plenty. When he had grown rich, he said. This seems splendour.

9. 子適衛,冉有僕。子曰:「庶矣哉!」冉有曰:「既庶矣,又何加焉?」曰:「富之 。」曰:「既富矣,又何加焉?」曰:「教之。」

When Jan Yu was driving him to Wei, the Master said. What numbers! Jan Yu said, Since numbers are here, what next is needed? Wealth, said the Master. And what comes next after wealth? Teaching, said the Master.

10. 子曰:「苟有用我者,期月而已可也,三年有成。」

The Master said, If I were employed for a twelve-month, much could be done. In three years all would be ended.

11. 子曰:「『善人為邦百年,亦可以勝殘去殺矣。』誠哉是言也!」

The Master said, If good men were to govern a land for an hundred years, cruelty would be conquered and putting to death done away with. How true are these words!

12. 子曰:「如有王者,必世而後仁。」

The Master said, Even if a king were to govern, a lifetime would pass before love dawned!

13. 子曰:「苟正其身矣,於從政乎何有?不能正其身,如正人何?」

The Master said, What is governing to a man that can rule himself? If he cannot rule himself, how shall he rule others?

14. 冉子退朝,子曰:「何晏也?」對曰:「有政。」子曰:「其事也!如有政,雖不 吾以,吾其與聞之!」

As the disciple Jan came back from court, the Master said to him. Why so late? I had business of state, he answered. Household business, said the Master. If it had been business of state, though I am out of office, I should have heard of it.

15. 定公問:「一言而可以興邦,有諸?」孔子對曰:「言不可以若是其幾也!人之言曰 :『為君難,為臣不易。』如知為君之難也,不幾乎一言而興邦乎?」曰:「一言而喪邦,有諸?」孔子對曰:「言不可以若是其幾也!人之言曰:『予無樂乎為君,唯其言而莫予違也。』如其善而莫之違也,不亦善乎?如不善而莫之違也,不幾乎一言而喪邦乎?」

Duke Ting asked, Is there any one saying that can bless a kingdom? Confucius answered, That is more than words can do. But men have a saying, To be lord is hard and to be minister is not easy. And if one knew how hard it is to be lord, might not this one saying almost bless a kingdom? And is there any one saying that can wreck a kingdom? That is more than words can do, Confucius answered. But men have a saying, My only delight in being lord is that no one withstands what I say. Now if what he says is good, and no one withstands him, is not that good too? But if it is not good, and no one withstands him, might not this one saying almost wreck a kingdom?

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

The Master said, A gentleman shapes the good in man, he does not shape the bad in him. The small man does the contrary. The Master said, Talk faithfully to them, and guide them well. If this is no good, stop. Do not bring shame upon thee.

16. 子曰:「君子成人之美,不成人之惡。小人反是。」

The Master said, A gentleman shapes the good in man, he does not shape the bad in him. The small man does the contrary.

17. 季康子問政於孔子,孔子對曰:「政者正也,子帥以正,孰敢不正?」

Chi K'ang asked Confucius how to rule. Confucius answered, To rule is to set straight. If ye give a straight lead, Sir, who will dare not go straight?

18. 季康子患盜,問於孔子。孔子對曰:「苟子之不欲,雖賞之不竊。」

Chi K'ang being troubled by robbers asked Confucius about it. Confucius answered, If ye did not wish it, Sir, though ye rewarded him no man would steal.

19. 季康子問政於孔子曰:「如殺無道,以就有道,何如?」孔子對曰:「子為政,焉 用殺?子欲善,而民善矣!君子之德風,小人之德草,草上之風必偃。」

Chi K'ang, speaking of kingcraft to Confucius, said, To help those that follow the Way, should we kill the men that will not? Confucius answered, Sir, what need has a ruler to kill? If ye wished for goodness, Sir, the people would be good. The gentleman's mind is the wind, and grass are the minds of small men: as the wind blows, so must the grass bend.

20. 子張問士:「何如斯可謂之達矣?」子曰:「何哉?爾所謂達者!」子張對曰:「在 邦必聞,在家必聞。」子曰:「是聞也,非達也。夫達也者,質直而好義,察言而觀色,慮以下人;在邦必達,在家必達。夫聞也者:色取仁而行違,居之不疑;在邦必聞,在家必聞。」

Tzu-chang asked, What must a knight be, for him to be called eminent? The Master said, What dost thou mean by eminence? Tzu-chang answered, To be famous in the state and famous in his home. That is fame, not eminence, said the Master. The eminent man is plain and straight, and loves right. He weighs words and scans looks; he takes pains to come down to men. And he shall be eminent in the state and eminent in his house. The famous man wears a mask of love, but his deeds belie it. Self-confident and free from doubts, fame will be his in the state and fame be his in his home.

21. 樊遲從遊於舞雩之下。曰:「敢問崇德、修慝、辨惑?」子曰:「善哉問!先事後得 ,非崇德與?攻其惡,無攻人之惡,非修慝與?一朝之忿,忘其身以及其親,非惑與?」

Whilst walking with the Master in the Rain God's glade Fan Ch'ih said to him, May I ask how to raise the mind, amend evil and scatter errors? Well asked! said the Master. Rank thy work above success, will not the mind be raised? Fight the bad in thee, not the bad in other men, will not evil be mended? One angry morning to forget both self and kin, is that no error?

22. 樊遲問「仁」。子曰:「愛人。」問「知」。子曰:「知人。」樊遲未達。子曰:「 舉直錯諸枉,能使枉者直。」樊遲退,見子夏曰:「鄉也,吾見於夫子而問『知』。子曰:『舉直錯諸枉,能使枉者直。』何謂也?」子夏曰:「富哉言乎!舜有天下,選於眾,舉皋陶,不仁者遠矣;湯有天下,選於眾,舉伊尹,不仁者遠矣。」

Fan Ch'ih asked, What is love? The Master said, To love men. He asked, What is wisdom? The Master said, To know men. Fan Ch'ih did not understand. The Master said, Lift up the straight, put by the crooked, and crooked men will grow straight. Fan Ch'ih withdrew, and seeing Tzu-hsia, said to him, The Master saw me and I asked him what wisdom is. He answered, Lift up the straight, put by the crooked, and crooked men will grow straight. What did he mean? How rich a saying! said Tzu-hsia. When Shun had all below heaven he chose Kao-yao from the many, lifted him up, and the men without love fled. When T'ang had all below heaven, he chose Yi-yin from the many, lifted him up, and the men without love fled.

23. 子貢問「友」。子曰:「忠告而善道之,不可則止,毋自辱焉。」

Tzu-kung asked about friends. The Master said, Talk faithfully to them, and guide them well. If this is no good, stop. Do not bring shame upon thee.

24. 曾子曰:「君子以文會友,以友輔仁。」

Tseng-tzu said, A gentleman gathers friends by culture, and stays love with friendship.

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