Gongye Chang

子謂公冶長：“可妻也，雖在縲紲之中，非其罪也！”以其子妻之。

Confucius, speaking of Gongye Chang, said: "He can be given a daughter in marriage. Though he has been in prison, it was not his fault." And he gave his own daughter to him in marriage.

子謂南容：“邦有道不廢；邦無道免於刑戮。”以其兄之子妻之。

Confucius, speaking of Nan Rong, said: "When the state is well governed, he will not be cast aside; when the state is in disorder, he can avoid punishment and execution." And he gave his elder brother's daughter to him in marriage.

子謂子賤：“君子哉若人！魯無君子者，斯焉取斯？”

Confucius, speaking of Zijian, said: "This man is truly a gentleman! If Lu had no gentlemen, where would he have learned such virtue?"

子貢問曰：“賜也何如？”子曰：“女器也。”曰：“何器也？”曰：“瑚璉也。”

Zigong asked: "What do you think of me, Duanmu Ci?" Confucius said: "You are a vessel." Zigong asked: "What kind of vessel?" Confucius said: "The hulian, the vessel for holding millet in the ancestral temple."

或曰：“雍也仁而不佞。”子曰：“焉用佞？御人以口給，屢憎於人。不知其仁，焉用佞？”

Someone said: "Ran Yong is benevolent, but it is a pity that he is not eloquent." Confucius said: "What need is there for eloquence? One who deals with others by sharp speech is often hated. I do not know whether Yong is benevolent, but what need is there for eloquence?"

子使漆雕開仕，對曰：“吾斯之未能信。”子說。

Confucius told Qidiao Kai to take office. He answered: "I am not yet confident about this." Confucius was very pleased on hearing this.

子曰：“道不行，乘桴浮於海，從我者其由與？”子路聞之喜，子曰：“由也好勇過我，無所取材。”

Confucius said: "If my way does not prevail, I will take a little raft and float out to sea. The one who will follow me is probably Zhong You, is it not?" Zilu was delighted to hear this. Confucius said: "Zhong You surpasses me in love of courage, but he does not know how to weigh matters."

孟武伯問：“子路仁乎？”子曰：“不知也。”又問，子曰：“由也，千乘之國，可使治其賦也，不知其仁也。”“求也何如？”子曰：“求也，千室之邑、百乘之家，可使為之宰也，不知其仁也。”“赤也何如？”子曰：“赤也，束帶立於朝，可使與賓客言也，不知其仁也。”

Meng Wubo asked: "Does Zilu count as benevolent?" Confucius said: "I do not know." He asked again, and Confucius said: "As for Zhong You, in a state of a thousand war chariots, he could be put in charge of the military and the levies, but as to whether he is benevolent, I do not know." He asked: "What about Ran Qiu?" Confucius said: "As for Ran Qiu, in a town of a thousand households or a fief of a hundred chariots, he could be made chief steward, but as to whether he is benevolent, I do not know." He asked: "What about Gongxi Chi?" Confucius said: "As for Gongxi Chi, standing in court in full dress, he could be put in charge of receiving guests and conversing with them, but as to whether he is benevolent, I do not know."

子謂子貢曰：“女與回也孰愈？”對曰：“賜也何敢望回？回也聞一以知十，賜也聞一以知二。”子曰：“弗如也，吾與女弗如也！”

Confucius said to Zigong: "Who is better, you or Yan Hui?" Zigong answered: "How dare I compare myself to Yan Hui? When Hui hears one thing, he can infer ten; when I hear one thing, I can infer only two." Confucius said: "You are not as good as he is; I agree with you, you are not as good as he is."

宰予晝寢，子曰：“朽木不可雕也，糞土之牆不可杇也，於予與何誅？”子曰：“始吾於人也，聽其言而信其行；今吾於人也，聽其言而觀其行。於予與改是。”

Zai Yu slept during the daytime. Confucius said: "Rotten wood cannot be carved, and a wall of dung cannot be plastered; as for Zai Yu, what is the use of reproaching him?" Confucius added: "At first, with others, I listened to their words and trusted their conduct; now, with others, I listen to their words and also watch their conduct. It was because of Zai Yu that I changed."

子曰：“吾未見剛者。”或對曰：“申棖。”子曰：“棖也欲，焉得剛。”

Confucius said: "I have never seen a truly firm person." Someone answered: "Shen Cheng is." Confucius said: "Shen Cheng has too many desires; how can he be called firm?"

子貢曰：“我不欲人之加諸我也，吾亦欲無加諸人。”子曰：“賜也，非爾所及也。”

Zigong said: "What I do not want others to impose on me, I also do not want to impose on others." Confucius said: "Ci, that is not something you can yet do."

子貢曰：“夫子之文章，可得而聞也；夫子之言性與天道，不可得而聞也。”

Zigong said: "We can hear the Master's words on cultural institutions and records; but as for the Master's words about human nature and the Way of Heaven, we cannot hear them."

子路有聞，未之能行，唯恐有聞。

When Zilu heard a teaching and had not yet been able to put it into practice, he feared only that he might hear another new one.

子貢問曰：“孔文子何以謂之文也？”子曰：“敏而好學，不恥下問，是以謂之文也。”

Zigong asked: "On what grounds did Kong Wenzi receive the posthumous title 'Wen' (cultured)?" Confucius said: "He was quick-minded and fond of learning, and was not ashamed to ask those of lower rank than himself, and so he was given the title 'Wen.'"

子謂子產：“有君子之道四焉：其行己也恭，其事上也敬，其養民也惠，其使民也義。”

Confucius, speaking of Zichan, said: "He had four of the ways of a gentleman: in his own conduct he was courteous and careful, in serving his superiors he was respectful, in nurturing the people he was generous, and in employing the people he was just."

子曰：“晏平仲善與人交，久而敬之。”

Confucius said: "Yan Pingzhong was good at associating with people; the longer they knew him, the more they respected him."

子曰：“臧文仲居蔡，山節藻梲，何如其知也？”

Confucius said: "Zang Wenzhong kept a great tortoise shell for divination, carved the capitals of his pillars in the shape of mountains, and painted water plants on the short posts on his beams; what sort of wisdom is that?"

子張問曰：“令尹子文三仕為令尹，無喜色，三已之無慍色，舊令尹之政必以告新令尹，何如？”子曰：“忠矣。”曰：“仁矣乎？”曰：“未知，焉得仁？”“崔子弒齊君，陳文子有馬十乘，棄而違之。至於他邦，則曰：‘猶吾大夫崔子也。’違之。之一邦，則又曰：‘猶吾大夫崔子也。’違之，何如？”子曰：“清矣。”曰：“仁矣乎？”曰：“未知，焉得仁？”

Zizhang asked: "Prime Minister Ziwen was appointed prime minister three times and showed no sign of joy; he was dismissed three times and showed no sign of anger. Each time he left office, he surely told the incoming prime minister all about the government affairs of his own term. What do you think of this man?" Confucius said: "He can be called loyal." Zizhang said: "Can he be called benevolent?" Confucius said: "I do not know yet; how can he be called benevolent?" Zizhang asked again: "When Cui Zhu killed the ruler of Qi, Chen Wenzi had forty horses, and he abandoned them all and left Qi. Arriving in another state, he said: 'The ones in power here are just like our great officer Cui,' and left. Coming to yet another state, he again said: 'The ones in power here are just like our great officer Cui,' and left again. What do you think of this man?" Confucius said: "He can be called pure." Zizhang said: "Can he be called benevolent?" Confucius said: "I do not know yet; how can he be called benevolent?"

季文子三思而後行，子聞之曰：“再斯可矣。”

Ji Wenzi thought three times before he acted on anything. Confucius, hearing this, said: "Twice is enough."

子曰：“甯武子，邦有道則知，邦無道則愚。其知可及也，其愚不可及也。”

Confucius said: "As for Ning Wuzi, when the state was well governed he showed wisdom; when the state was in disorder he played the fool. Others can match his wisdom, but they cannot match his playing the fool."

子在陳，曰：“歸與！歸與！吾黨之小子狂簡，斐然成章，不知所以裁之。”

When Confucius was in the state of Chen, he said: "Let us go back! Let us go back! The students in my home region are lofty in aspiration but careless in conduct; though their literary grace is brilliant and worth seeing, they do not know how to trim themselves."

子曰：“伯夷、叔齊不念舊惡，怨是用希。”

Confucius said: "Bo Yi and Shu Qi did not keep in mind the old wrongs of others, and so the resentment against them was slight."

子曰：“孰謂微生高直？或乞醯焉，乞諸其鄰而與之。”

Confucius said: "Who says Weisheng Gao is straightforward? When someone asked him for a little vinegar, he did not say he had none, but went and begged it from a neighbor to give to the person."

子曰：“巧言、令色、足恭，左丘明恥之，丘亦恥之。匿怨而友其人，左丘明恥之，丘亦恥之。”

Confucius said: "Clever words, an ingratiating look, and exaggerated courtesy, Zuo Qiuming was ashamed of them, and I, Qiu, am also ashamed of them. To hide resentment in one's heart and pretend to be friendly with a person, Zuo Qiuming was ashamed of it, and I, Qiu, am also ashamed of it."

顏淵、季路侍，子曰：“盍各言爾志？”子路曰：“願車馬、衣輕裘與朋友共，敝之而無憾。”顏淵曰：“願無伐善，無施勞。”子路曰：“願聞子之志。”子曰：“老者安之，朋友信之，少者懷之。”

Yan Yuan and Zilu were attending Confucius. Confucius said: "Why do you not each tell me your aspirations?" Zilu said: "I would like to take my carriages and horses and light warm fur coats and share them with my friends, and not complain if they are worn out." Yan Yuan said: "I would like not to boast of my strengths and not to proclaim my merits." Zilu said: "We would like to hear the Master's aspiration." Confucius said: "To give the old peace and comfort, to let friends trust one another, and to let the young be cared for."

子曰：“已矣乎！吾未見能見其過而內自訟者也。”

Confucius said: "It is hopeless! I have never seen one who could see his own faults and inwardly blame himself."

子曰：“十室之邑，必有忠信如丘者焉，不如丘之好學也。”

Confucius said: "Even in a small place of ten households, there must be someone as loyal and trustworthy as I am, but not as fond of learning as I am."

子曰：“雍也可使南面。”

Confucius said: "Ran Yong could be given the position of facing south to rule, governing a region."

仲弓問子桑伯子，子曰：“可也簡。”仲弓曰：“居敬而行簡，以臨其民，不亦可乎？居簡而行簡，無乃大簡乎？”子曰：“雍之言然。”

Zhonggong asked Confucius what he thought of Zisang Bozi. Confucius said: "He will do; he is simple in manner." Zhonggong said: "If one is reverent in heart and simple in action, and governs the people with that attitude, would that not do? But if one is careless in heart and simple in action, is that not too simple?" Confucius said: "What you say is right."

哀公問：“弟子孰為好學？”孔子對曰：“有顏回者好學，不遷怒，不貳過，不幸短命死矣，今也則亡，未聞好學者也。”

Duke Ai of Lu asked: "Which of your students is most fond of learning?" Confucius answered: "There was one called Yan Hui who was the most fond of learning; he did not transfer his anger to others and did not repeat the same mistake. Unfortunately his life was short and he died, and now there is no one like him; I have not heard of anyone else fond of learning."

子華使於齊，冉子為其母請粟，子曰：“與之釜。”請益，曰：“與之庾。”冉子與之粟五秉。子曰：“赤之適齊也，乘肥馬，衣輕裘。吾聞之也，君子周急不繼富。”

When Gongxi Chi went as envoy to Qi, Ran You requested millet for his mother. Confucius said: "Give her a fu and a half." Ran You asked for more, and Confucius said: "Give her a yu more." Ran You gave her eighty bushels. Confucius said: "When Gongxi Chi went to Qi, he rode in a carriage drawn by fat horses and wore light warm furs. I have heard: the gentleman helps those in urgent need, and does not add to the wealth of the rich."

原思為之宰，與之粟九百，辭。子曰：“毋，以與爾鄰里鄉黨乎！”

Yuan Si was chief steward in Confucius's household, and Confucius gave him nine hundred measures of millet, which he declined. Confucius said: "Do not decline! You can give it to your neighbors and fellow villagers!"

子謂仲弓曰：“犁牛之子騂且角，雖欲勿用，山川其舍諸？”

Confucius, speaking of Zhonggong, said: "If the calf of a plow ox is red in coat and has fine, even horns, even if people did not want to use it for sacrifice, would the spirits of the mountains and rivers be willing to cast it aside?"

子曰：“回也，其心三月不違仁，其餘則日月至焉而已矣。”

Confucius said: "As for Yan Hui, his mind can go for a long time without departing from benevolence; as for the others, they reach it only occasionally, on one day or in one month."

季康子問：“仲由可使從政也與？”子曰：“由也果，於從政乎何有？”曰：“賜也可使從政也與？”曰：“賜也達，於從政乎何有？”曰：“求也可使從政也與？”曰：“求也藝，於從政乎何有？”

Ji Kangzi asked: "Can Zhong You be given a role in government?" Confucius said: "Zhong You is decisive; what difficulty is there in his governing?" Ji Kangzi asked: "Can Duanmu Ci be given a role in government?" Confucius said: "Duanmu Ci is a man of understanding; what difficulty is there in his governing?" Ji Kangzi asked: "Can Ran Qiu be given a role in government?" Confucius said: "Ran Qiu is a man of many talents; what difficulty is there in his governing?"

季氏使閔子騫為費宰，閔子騫曰：“善為我辭焉。如有復我者，則吾必在汶上矣。”

The Ji family sent someone to ask Min Ziqian to be the governor of Bi. Min Ziqian said: "Please decline for me properly. If someone comes to me again, I will surely have already fled to the north bank of the Wen River."

伯牛有疾，子問之，自牖執其手，曰：“亡之，命矣夫！斯人也而有斯疾也！斯人也而有斯疾也！”

Bo Niu was gravely ill, and Confucius went to visit him, and held his hand through the window, saying: "He is dying, it is fate! That such a man should have such an illness! That such a man should have such an illness!"

子曰：“賢哉回也！一簞食，一瓢飲，在陋巷，人不堪其憂，回也不改其樂。賢哉，回也！”

Confucius said: "How worthy Yan Hui was! A bamboo basket of rice, a gourd ladle of water, living in a humble lane, others could not bear the hardship, yet Hui did not change his joy. How worthy Yan Hui was!"

冉求曰：“非不說子之道，力不足也。”子曰：“力不足者，中道而廢，今女畫。”

Ran Qiu said: "It is not that I do not delight in the Master's Way, it is that my strength is not enough." Confucius said: "Those whose strength is not enough stop halfway on the road; but now you have drawn a line for yourself and refuse to go."

子謂子夏曰：“女為君子儒，無為小人儒。”

Confucius said to Zixia: "Be a gentleman-type scholar, not a petty-person-type scholar."

子游為武城宰，子曰：“女得人焉爾乎？”曰：“有澹臺滅明者，行不由徑，非公事，未嘗至於偃之室也。”

Ziyou was governor of Wucheng. Confucius said: "Have you found any talented person there?" Ziyou said: "There is one named Tantai Mieming, who never takes shortcuts when he walks, and never comes to my house unless it is on public business."

子曰：“孟之反不伐，奔而殿，將入門，策其馬曰：‘非敢後也，馬不進也。’”

Confucius said: "Meng Zhifan does not boast of himself. When the army retreated he covered the rear, and just as he was about to enter the city gate, he whipped his horse and said: 'It was not that I dared to cover the rear, it was that my horse could not run fast.'"

子曰：“不有祝鮀之佞，而有宋朝之美，難乎免於今之世矣。”

Confucius said: "A person who does not have the eloquence of Zhu Tuo, and has only the beauty of Song Chao, would probably not escape misfortune in the world today."

子曰：“誰能出不由戶？何莫由斯道也？”

Confucius said: "Who can go out without passing through the door? Why is it that no one takes this path?"

子曰：“質勝文則野，文勝質則史。文質彬彬，然後君子。”

Confucius said: "When plainness outweighs refinement, one appears coarse; when refinement outweighs plainness, one appears showy. Only when refinement and plainness are matched in the proper measure is one a gentleman."

子曰：“人之生也直，罔之生也幸而免。”

Confucius said: "A person lives by being upright; one who is not upright and yet lives has merely escaped misfortune by luck."

子曰：“知之者不如好之者；好之者不如樂之者。”

Confucius said: "Those who know it are not equal to those who love it, and those who love it are not equal to those who delight in it."

子曰：“中人以上，可以語上也；中人以下，不可以語上也。”

Confucius said: "With people whose capacity is above average, one can discuss higher matters; with people whose capacity is below average, one cannot discuss higher matters."

樊遲問知，子曰：“務民之義，敬鬼神而遠之，可謂知矣。”問仁，曰：“仁者先難而後獲，可謂仁矣。”

Fan Chi asked what wisdom is. Confucius said: "To devote oneself to what the people should do, and to respect the spirits yet keep them at a distance and not become superstitious, this can be called wisdom." He asked what benevolence is. Confucius said: "The benevolent person first puts in the hard effort, and then reaps the result, and this can be called benevolence."

子曰：“知者樂水，仁者樂山。知者動，仁者靜。知者樂，仁者壽。”

Confucius said: "The wise delight in water, and the benevolent delight in mountains. The wise are active, and the benevolent are tranquil. The wise are joyful, and the benevolent live long."

子曰：“齊一變至於魯，魯一變至於道。”

Confucius said: "If Qi had one reform, it would reach the condition of Lu; if Lu had one reform, it would accord with the Way of the former kings."

子曰：“觚不觚，觚哉！觚哉！”

Confucius said: "A gu vessel that is no longer a gu, is it still a gu! Is it still a gu!"

宰我問曰：“仁者，雖告之曰：‘井有仁焉。’其從之也？”子曰：“何為其然也？君子可逝也，不可陷也；可欺也，不可罔也。”

Zai Wo asked: "If someone tells a benevolent person, 'A man has fallen into the well,' will he jump in after him?" Confucius said: "Why would he do that? The gentleman can be made to hurry to the well to rescue, but cannot be trapped into going down the well himself; he can be deceived for a while with reasonable words, but cannot be fooled with absurd ones."

子曰：“君子博學於文，約之以禮，亦可以弗畔矣夫。”

Confucius said: "If the gentleman studies the literature and the classics broadly, and restrains himself with ritual, he may be kept from straying from the Way."

子見南子，子路不說，夫子矢之曰：“予所否者，天厭之！天厭之！”

Confucius went to see Nanzi, and Zilu was displeased. Confucius swore: "If I have done anything contrary to ritual, may Heaven reject me! May Heaven reject me!"

子曰：“中庸之為德也，其至矣乎！民鮮久矣。”

Confucius said: "The Mean, as a virtue, is probably the highest! But it is a pity that few among the people have been able to practice it for a long time."

子貢曰：“如有博施於民而能濟眾，何如？可謂仁乎？”子曰：“何事於仁，必也聖乎！堯、舜其猶病諸！夫仁者，己欲立而立人，己欲達而達人。能近取譬，可謂仁之方也已。”

Zigong said: "If someone could confer benefits widely on the people and could also relieve the multitudes, how would that be? Could he be called benevolent?" Confucius said: "Why only benevolent, he would surely be a sage! Even Yao and Shun probably could not manage it! As for benevolence, it is that one who wishes to establish himself also helps others to establish themselves, and one who wishes to attain also helps others to attain. To be able to take what is near, one's own self, as a comparison and so understand others, may be called the method of practicing benevolence."