Zi Lu

子曰：“不逆詐，不億不信，抑亦先覺者，是賢乎！”

Confucius said: "Not to suspect in advance that others are deceiving you, nor to guess groundlessly that others are dishonest, and yet to notice it early: this is surely a worthy man!"

微生畝謂孔子曰：“丘何為是棲棲者與？無乃為佞乎？”孔子曰：“非敢為佞也，疾固也。”

Weisheng Mou said to Confucius: "Qiu, why are you so busy going about everywhere? Surely you are not showing off your eloquence?" Confucius said: "I do not dare to show off eloquence; I only hate people's narrow-mindedness."

曰：“驥不稱其力，稱其德也。”

Confucius said: "A thousand-li horse is praised not for its strength but for its temperament."

或曰：“以德報怨，何如？”子曰：“何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。”

Someone said: "What about repaying resentment with kindness?" Confucius said: "Then with what would you repay kindness? Repay resentment with fairness, and repay kindness with kindness."

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！”

Confucius said: "No one understands me!" Zigong said: "Why do you say no one understands you?" Confucius said: "I do not blame Heaven or fault people; I begin with ordinary learning and reach upward to the principle of Heaven. The one who understands me is probably only Heaven!"

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？”

Gongbo Liao slandered Zilu before Ji Sun. Zifu Jingbo told Confucius, saying: "Ji Sun has indeed been misled by Gongbo Liao; but I still have the power to have him killed and his body displayed in the marketplace." Confucius said: "If the Way is to prevail, it is fate; if the Way is to fail, it is also fate. What can Gongbo Liao do against fate?"

子曰：“賢者辟世，其次辟地，其次辟色，其次辟言。”子曰：“作者七人矣。”

Confucius said: "The worthy avoid a disorderly age, the next rank avoid a disorderly place, the next avoid a displeased look, and the next avoid harsh words." Confucius added: "There have already been seven who did so."

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？”

Zilu spent the night at Shimen. The gatekeeper asked: "Where do you come from?" Zilu said: "From the house of Confucius." The man said: "Is that the one who knows it cannot be done and yet does it?"

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，斯己而已矣。深則厲，淺則揭。”子曰：“果哉！末之難矣。”

Confucius was striking the stone chime in Wei. A man carrying a straw basket passed by the door of Confucius' house and said: "There is something on the mind of whoever strikes the chime so!" After a while he said: "How vulgar, that clanging sound! If no one understands you, then just give up. If the water is deep, wade through in your clothes; if it is shallow, lift your clothes and wade." Confucius said: "How decisively put! If so, there would be no difficulty at all."

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，百官總己以聽於冢宰三年。”

Zizhang said: "The Book of Documents says: 'Gaozong of Yin, in mourning, lived in the hut and for three years did not speak of government.' What does this mean?" Confucius said: "Not only Gaozong, the ancients were all like this. When the ruler died, the hundred officials each attended to their own duties and took orders from the prime minister for three years."

子曰：“上好禮，則民易使也。”

Confucius said: "When those in high position love ritual, the people are easy to direct."

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！”

Zilu asked what makes a gentleman. Confucius said: "Cultivate oneself with reverence." Zilu said: "Is that enough?" Confucius said: "Cultivate oneself so as to bring peace and joy to others." Zilu said: "Is that enough?" Confucius said: "Cultivate oneself so as to bring peace and joy to the common people. To cultivate oneself so as to bring peace and joy to the common people, even Yao and Shun probably still found it hard to do!"

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。

Yuan Rang sat with his legs sprawled, waiting for Confucius. Confucius said: "As a child you had no modesty or respect for elders; as an adult you have nothing worth mentioning; and now you are old and still do not die; you are truly a pest!" With this he tapped his shin with his staff.

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。”

A boy from Queli came to deliver a message. Someone asked Confucius: "Is this a boy who wants to improve?" Confucius said: "I saw him sitting in the seat of adults, and I saw him walking side by side with elders. He is not one who seeks to improve; he is a boy in a hurry to get ahead."

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。

Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about military formations. Confucius replied: "As to matters of sacrificial ritual, I have heard something; as to leading troops in battle, I have not studied them." The next day Confucius left Wei.

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。”

Confucius and his followers ran out of food in Chen, and those with him were sick from hunger and unable to get up. Zilu came to see Confucius in anger and said: "Does the gentleman also have times when he has nowhere to turn?" Confucius said: "The gentleman does indeed have times of hardship, but the petty man, when in hardship, will do anything."

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。”

Confucius said: "Ci, do you think I am one who has learned much and remembered it all?" Zigong replied: "Yes; is it not so?" Confucius said: "No; I have one thread that runs through it all."

子曰：“由，知德者鮮矣。”

Confucius said: "You, those who understand virtue are very few."

子曰：“無為而治者其舜也與！夫何為哉？恭己正南面而已矣。”

Confucius said: "One who could govern the world well by non-action was probably only Shun! What did he do? He simply sat solemnly on the throne, facing south."

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；在輿則見其倚于衡也，夫然後行。”子張書諸紳。

Zizhang asked how one can get along everywhere. Confucius said: "If your words are loyal and trustworthy and your conduct is sincere and respectful, you will get along even in the lands of the barbarians; if your words are not loyal and trustworthy and your conduct is not sincere and respectful, could you get along even in your own village? When standing, it is as though you see the words 'loyal, trustworthy, sincere, respectful' standing before you; when riding in a carriage, it is as though you see them resting on the crossbar before you. Only then will you get along." Zizhang wrote these words on his sash.

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。”

Confucius said: "How upright was the historian Yu! When the state had the Way he was as straight as an arrow, and when the state lacked the Way he was still as straight as an arrow. What a gentleman was Qu Boyu! When the state had the Way he took office, and when the state lacked the Way he could roll up his talents and keep them tucked away in his bosom."

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。”

Confucius said: "If one can speak with a person and does not, one loses that person; if one cannot speak with a person and does, one wastes words. The wise neither lose people nor waste words."

子曰：“志士仁人無求生以害仁，有殺身以成仁。”

Confucius said: "A person of purpose and a benevolent person will not harm benevolence in order to preserve life; they will sacrifice themselves to fulfill benevolence."

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。”

Zigong asked how to cultivate benevolence. Confucius said: "A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools. Living in a state, serve the worthy among its high officials and make friends with the benevolent among its scholars."

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。”

Yan Yuan asked how to govern a state. Confucius said: "Use the calendar of the Xia, ride in the carriage of the Yin, wear the ceremonial cap of the Zhou, and for music use the Shao and the Wu; ban the tunes of Zheng and keep glib flatterers at a distance. The tunes of Zheng are licentious, and flatterers are dangerous."

子曰：“人無遠慮，必有近憂。”

Confucius said: "A person without long-term considerations will surely have trouble close at hand."

子曰：“已矣乎！吾未見好德如好色者也。”

Confucius said: "Enough! I have never seen anyone who loves virtue as much as he loves beauty."

子曰：“臧文仲其竊位者與！知柳下惠之賢而不與立也。”

Confucius said: "Zang Wenzhong was probably one who stole his official position! He knew that Liuxia Hui was worthy, yet he did not recommend him to serve together at court."

子曰：“躬自厚而薄責於人，則遠怨矣。”

Confucius said: "One who blames himself heavily and others lightly will keep far from resentment."

子曰：“不曰‘如之何、如之何’者，吾末如之何也已矣。”

Confucius said: "A person who never asks 'What shall I do? What shall I do?' about a matter, I truly can do nothing with such a person."

子曰：“群居終日，言不及義，好行小慧，難矣哉！”

Confucius said: "A crowd who gather all day, whose talk never touches on righteousness, and who like to show off petty cleverness: such people are truly hard to deal with!"

子曰：“君子義以為質，禮以行之，孫以出之，信以成之。君子哉！”

Confucius said: "The gentleman takes righteousness as his foundation, carries it out according to ritual, expresses it with modesty, and completes it with trustworthiness. Such is the gentleman!"

子曰：“君子病無能焉，不病人之不己知也。”

Confucius said: "The gentleman is concerned about his own lack of ability, not about others failing to understand him."

子曰：“君子疾沒世而名不稱焉。”

Confucius said: "The gentleman is troubled that, when he dies, his name will not be spoken of."

子曰：“君子求諸己，小人求諸人。”

Confucius said: "The gentleman looks to himself in everything; the petty man looks to others in everything."

子曰：“君子矜而不爭，群而不黨。”

Confucius said: "The gentleman is dignified and self-possessed without contending with others, and gets along with groups without forming factions."

子曰：“君子不以言舉人，不以人廢言。”

Confucius said: "The gentleman does not recommend a person because of what he says, nor dismiss his words because of the person."

子貢問曰：“有一言而可以終身行之者乎？”子曰：“其恕乎！己所不欲，勿施於人。”

Zigong asked: "Is there a single word that one can practice all one's life?" Confucius said: "Perhaps it is 'shu' (reciprocity)! What you do not wish for yourself, do not impose on others."

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。”

Confucius said: "In my dealings with others, whom have I slandered, and whom have I praised? If I have praised anyone, it has surely been after testing. The people of today are exactly those by whom the Three Dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou walked the straight Way."

子曰：“吾猶及史之闕文也，有馬者借人乘之，今亡矣夫！”

Confucius said: "I was still able to see historians leaving blanks where they were unsure, and those who owned horses lending them to others to ride; now even these are gone, it seems!"

子曰：“巧言亂德，小不忍，則亂大謀。”

Confucius said: "Clever words ruin virtue; lack of patience in small matters ruins great plans."

子曰：“眾惡之，必察焉；眾好之，必察焉。”

Confucius said: "When everyone dislikes a person, one must investigate; when everyone likes a person, one must also investigate."

子曰：“人能弘道，非道弘人。”

Confucius said: "It is people who can broaden the Way, not the Way that broadens people."

子曰：“過而不改，是謂過矣。”

Confucius said: "To have a fault and not correct it, that is what is truly called a fault."

子曰：“吾嘗終日不食、終夜不寢以思，無益，不如學也。”

Confucius said: "I once spent a whole day without eating and a whole night without sleeping in order to think, and it was of no use; it is better to study."

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。”

Confucius said: "The gentleman seeks the Way, not food and clothing. One may farm and still go hungry; one may study and salary will naturally come with it. The gentleman worries about the Way, not about poverty."

子曰：“知及之，仁不能守之，雖得之，必失之；知及之，仁能守之，不莊以蒞之，則民不敬；知及之，仁能守之，莊以蒞之，動之不以禮，未善也。”

Confucius said: "If one gains something through wisdom but cannot hold it with benevolence, even if one gains it one will surely lose it; if one gains it through wisdom and can hold it with benevolence, but does not face the people with dignity, the people will not respect him; if one gains it through wisdom, can hold it with benevolence, and faces the people with dignity, but does not act according to ritual, that is still not good enough."

子曰：“君子不可小知而可大受也，小人不可大受而可小知也。”

Confucius said: "The gentleman cannot be known through small matters, yet can take on great responsibilities; the petty man cannot take on great responsibilities, yet can be known through small matters."

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。”

Confucius said: "The people need benevolence more urgently than they need water and fire. As for water and fire, I have seen people step into them and die; but I have never seen anyone step into benevolence and die."

子曰：“當仁不讓於師。”

Confucius said: "When facing benevolence that ought to be practiced, one need not defer even to one's teacher."

子曰：“君子貞而不諒。”

Confucius said: "The gentleman holds firmly to what is right, but does not cling to petty good faith."

子曰：“事君，敬其事而後其食。”

Confucius said: "In serving a ruler, first attend to one's duties with care, and only afterward think of salary."

子曰：“有教無類。”

Confucius said: "In teaching, make no distinction among the noble and the humble, the poor and the rich."

子曰：“道不同，不相為謀。”

Confucius said: "Those whose ways differ have no need to consult or plan with each other."

子曰：“辭達而已矣。”

Confucius said: "Words need only be enough to convey the meaning clearly."

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。”

The music master Mian came to see Confucius. When he reached the steps, Confucius said: "Here are the steps." When he reached the mat, Confucius said: "Here is the mat." When everyone was seated, Confucius told him: "So-and-so is here; so-and-so is here." After the music master Mian left, Zizhang asked: "Is this the way to speak with a music master?" Confucius said: "Yes, this is indeed the way to help a music master."