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Saturday, May 26, 2018

The Analects of Confucius: Scroll Eighteen


Passage Four Hundred and Sixty Five

微子去之,箕子為之奴,比干諫而死。孔子曰:「殷有三仁焉。」

English Translation

King Jhou is not just. Weizih left him. Jizih became a slave. Bigan try talking sense into him and ended up getting dead

Confucius said: This country has three humane persons.

Passage Four Hundred and Sixty Six

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。」

English Translation

Liousiahuei is a judge. He has been sacked for many times. A person said to him “Why can't you leave Lu nation.”

He said: If you choose to be just, you are going to be sacked a few times. But if you are not just, then, you would have no need for leaving.

Passage Four Hundred and Sixty Seven

齊景公待孔子,曰:「若季氏則吾不能,以季、孟之閒待之。」曰:「吾老矣,不能用也。」

English Translation    

The King of Ci nation said: I am not able to use Confucius like the King of Lu nation. if you want me to treat him, like how, Ji family and Mong family treat him that I can do. I am getting too old. I can't use him.

Confucius left Ci nation

Passage Four Hundred and Sixty Eight

齊人歸女樂,季桓子受之。三日不朝,孔子行。

English Translation

Ci nation send Lu nation a group of singing and dancing girls. Jihuanzih accepted it and didn't show up in government hall for three days, So, Confucius left Lu nation.

Passage Four Hundred and Sixty Nine

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。

English Translation

A crazy person from Chu nation ran towards Confucius carriage and said: Phoenix, phoenix, why are you so unlucky? The past cannot be changed, but the future can still be changed. Forget about it, forget about it. The politics today is too dangerous.

Confucius got off his carriage and wanted to talk to him, but he quickly ran away. Confucius didn't have a chance to talk to him.

Passage Four Hundred and Seventy

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。」

English Translation

Changzu and Jieni are farming. Confucius walked passed and asked Zihlu to ask for direction.

Changzu asked: Who is the one driving the carriage.

Zihlu said: Confucius

Changzu said: Confucius of Lu nation?

Zihlu said: Yes

Changzu said: Then, he should know the roads of this place.

Changzu said: Who are you?

Zihlu said: I am Sanyo

Changzu said: Are you Confucius' student?

Changzu said: The world is in chaos right now. You, people, are trying to change the world. Instead of trying to avoid those who are not ethical, why don't you just avoid the entire world, all together, just like us?

Zihlu returned to Confucius and told him about the conversation. Confucius said: Human are not able to associate with animals if I don't associate with human, who else am I supposed to associate with? If we have world peace, then, what need are there, for people trying to change the world?

Passage Four Hundred and Seventy One

子路從而後,遇丈人,以杖荷蓧。子路問曰:「子見夫子乎?」丈人曰:「四體不勤,五穀不分。孰為夫子?」植其杖而芸。子路拱而立。止子路宿,殺雞為黍而食之,見其二子焉。明日,子路行以告。子曰:「隱者也。」使子路反見之。至則行矣。子路曰:「不仕無義。長幼之節,不可廢也;君臣之義,如之何其廢之?欲潔其身,而亂大倫。君子之仕也,行其義也。道之不行,已知之矣。」

English Translation

Zihlu follows Confucius, on his journey, one day, he got left behind. He saw an old man, using a weed killing tool.

Zihlu asked: Have you seen my master?

The old man said: I am an old man, whose limbs can't even function, well. Who is your master?

The old man starts cutting the weeds again.

Zihlu stood on the side of the road respectfully.

So, that night, the old man, invite Zihlu, to rest there and cooked chicken for him and introduce his two sons to Zihlu.

The next day, Zihlu caught up to Confucius and told Confucius about what happened yesterday.
Confucius said: This is a wise man that chooses to go into hiding and let Zihlu go back, to visit him.

When Zihlu returned, the old man is no longer at home, so he left a message to the old man via his sons saying: Not been a Lord, is not acting in coalition with justice. We cannot abandon the politeness between a parent and a child or the justice between a King and his subject. A person wants to save himself but ruin the way things should be. For a gentleman to be a Lord, it is about pushing for justice. As for the fact that it is hard for us to let our ambitions, come true, that is something we already know of.

Passage Four Hundred and Seventy Two

逸民:伯夷、叔齊、虞仲、夷逸、朱張、柳下惠、少連。子曰:「不降其志,不辱其身,伯夷、叔齊與!」謂:「柳下惠、少連,降志辱身矣。言中倫,行中慮,其斯而已矣。」謂:「虞仲、夷逸,隱居放言。身中清,廢中權。」「我則異於是,無可無不可。」

English Translation

Wise men of the past that have been forgotten include Boyi, Shuci, Yujhong, Yiyi, Jhujhang, Liousialian, and Shaolian.

Confucius said: Boyi and Shuci are the types of people, who are not willing to lower their goal or their status.

Confucius then said: Liousialian and Shaolian are the types of people, who are willing to lower their goal and disgrace their own status. But their speech is always in coalition with logic. Their action is always in coalition with concern.

Confucius then said: Yujjong and Yiyi are willing to hide from the world, they speak their mind.

Confucius then said: My main difference from these people is that I am flexible in my way of doing
things and don't insist on doing things a certain way.

Passage Four Hundred and Seventy Three

大師摯適齊,亞飯干適楚,三飯繚適蔡,四飯缺適秦。鼓方叔入於河,播鼗武入於漢,少師陽、擊磬襄,入於海。

English Translation

The King's first musician went to Ci nation, the second musician went to Chu nation, and the third
musician went to Cai nation. Another went to the yellow river, another went to Han River and another
two went to the beach.

Passage Four Hundred and Seventy Four

周公謂魯公曰:「君子不施其親,不使大臣怨乎不以。故舊無大故,則不棄也。無求備於一人。」

English Translation

Mr. Jhou said to Mr Lu: A gentleman doesn’t stay too far away from his love ones. He won't refuse to
use a man that complaint about him, as a minister. If a minister has been with him for a long time and is his old friend, he won't fire this minister, unless he makes a big mistake. He doesn't ask anybody for full responsibility.

Passage Four Hundred and Seventy Five

周有八士:伯達、伯適、仲突、仲忽、叔夜、叔夏、季隨、季騧。

English Translation

There are eight paladins of the Jhou era. Boda, Boshih, Jhongtu, Jhonghu, Shuye, Susia, Jisuei, Jigua.


The Analects of Confucius: Scroll Seventeen

The Analects of Confucius: Scroll Fifteen

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty Three 

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。

English Translation 

Mr. Weiling asked Confucius about battle formation.

Confucius said: In term of manner, I know some, but in term of battle, I am not a professional

The next day, Confucius left Wei nation.

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty Four 

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。」

English Translation 

When losing food supply at Chen nation, all the students got very hungry and they can't walk forward.

Zihlu complaint saying: Would there be a time, when gentlemen get so poor?

Confucius said: When a gentleman gets poor, he doesn’t lose himself. When a savage get poor, he gives up on himself.

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty Five 

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。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Zihgong, do you think the reason I know so much, is because I learned a lot?

Zihgong said: Isn't that the case?

Confucius said: No, I use a set of consistent principle, in my philosophy.

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty Six 

子曰:「由!知德者鮮矣。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Too few people know about morals.

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty Seven 

子曰:「無為而治者,其舜也與?夫何為哉,恭己正南面而已矣。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Shun is probably the only King that can create world peace, without doing anything. What did he do? He just sits on the throne and be sensible.

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty Eight 

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。

English Translation 

Zihzang asked: How to behave?

Confucius said: Be true to your words and be honest. This way, even if you are living in a remote area, your career will be smooth. Otherwise, even if you live in a prospering city, would things be smooth? If you are a liar, would people of your village trust you? Always remember, the word 'honesty' and 'keeping your word', would make you successful everywhere.

So, Zihzang wrote the word at on his belt.

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty Nine 

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。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Shihyu is very a straightforward man. When the King is just, he is like a straight arrow. When the King is not just, he is like an arrow. Pengboyu is a great gentleman. When there is a just King, he comes out to support the King. When the King, is not just, he resign and go into hiding.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety 

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。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If you come across a person you can speak to, but you don't speak, then you lost your chance. If you come across a person you cannot speak to but you speak, all you do is offending him. A smart person would not offend people, by speaking to people who he cannot speak with.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety One 

子曰:「志士仁人,無求生以害仁,有殺身以成仁。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: We never hear of a humane paladin with ideals, doing things that are not humane, due to a fear of death, only those who are willing to die to serve a humane purpose.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety Two 

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。」

English Translation 

Zihgong asked, about how to be a humane person.

Confucius said: The blacksmith must do his job well. He must be as effective as possible. When living in the country, assist the great men. And befriend people who are humane.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety Three 

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。」

English Translation 

Yanyuan asked about how to govern a nation.

Confucius said: Use Sia Kingdom's calendar, use Shang Kingdom's carriages, use Jhou dynasty's clothing. Have beautiful music. Avoid rotten sound, which is the sound of those who are suck-ups and gossip.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety Four 

子曰:「人無遠慮,必有近憂。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Those who are not long-sighted would have to face disaster situation, soon ahead.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety Five 

子曰:「已矣乎!吾未見好德如好色者也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: This society is doom! I have never seen a person who loves kindness, as much as he loves a beautiful woman.

Note: Confucius ideology, should not be confused to be as referring to sex as evil, like Christianity. However, Confucius do believe one need to be able to restrain his own lustful desire and show the necessary level of restraining, when necessary. Because, firstly, Confucius ideology believe one should do his work first and have fun later. Secondly, Confucius ideology speaks of the principle of manner, is to maintain harmony. Thirdly, Confucius ideology encourage been humane and honor your parents.

For example, if you are a university student and choose to have sex with your girlfriend and not complete your final assessment, you might fail the course, thus you failed the course, because you didn't do the more important things first.

Also, failure to be in control of a lustful desire, under some circumstances, could result in destroying harmony. For example, if you rape a woman, even if you are fortunate enough not to ended up in prison over this, you are still hurting people, thus destroying harmony. If you have a lustful desire for your brother's wife and had an affair with brother's wife, even if your brother forgives you, you are causing harm to your brother, thus destroying harmony.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety Six 

子曰:「臧文仲其竊位者與?知柳下惠之賢,而不與立也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Is Zangwunjhong a person that steals Lordship? He knows there is a better candidate but won't recommend him.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety Seven 

子曰:「躬自厚而薄責於人,則遠怨矣。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Think about your flaws more, blame other people less. This way, you can avoid having people hating you.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety Eight 

子曰:「不曰『如之何如之何』者,吾末如之何也已矣。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: People who encounter a problem but don't think about "how to resolve it" I don't know what to do about them either.

Passage Three Hundred and Ninety Nine 

子曰:「群居終日,言不及義,好行小慧,難矣哉!」

English Translation 

Confucius said: People, who like to gather together in a group, all day, speak of things that are antijustice and love to play little tricks. People like these are hard to deal with.

Passage Four Hundred 

子曰:「君子義以為質,禮以行之,孫以出之,信以成之。君子哉!」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A true gentleman insist on justice, behave polite, and is always humble and true to his word.

Passage Four Hundred and One 

子曰:「君子病無能焉,不病人之不己知也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A true gentleman isn't afraid of people not knowing him, he is only afraid of not having the ability.

Note: "Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition." Abraham Lincoln

Passage Four Hundred and Two 

子曰:「君子疾沒世而名不稱焉。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A gentleman's biggest regrade would be till death people still don't praise him.

Passage Four Hundred and Three 

子曰:「君子求諸己,小人求諸人。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A gentleman expects himself. A savage expects others.

Passage Four Hundred and Four 

子曰:「君子矜而不爭,群而不黨。」

English Translation 

 Confucius said: A true gentleman represent himself in a solemn manner. A true gentleman doesn't fight with the world. A true gentleman unites with the masses. A true gentleman doesn't create a little circle and conspires against others.

Note: During the era of the Spanish Inquisition, the Roman Catholic Church order for people to all unite under Catholicism. Those who refuse to do so were executed. Organized Crime also frequently create a little circle (their gang) and conspire against others e.g. human trafficking and sex trafficking. After the US' law recognized gay marriage, some extremists Christian group start spreading the rumor saying this, is evidence of the coming of the great Christian persecution.

Passage Four Hundred and Five 

子曰:「君子不以言舉人,不以人廢言。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A true gentleman won't recommend a person, simply because that person is good to him. He won't reject a person's opinion, simply because he doesn’t like that person.

Passage Four Hundred and Six 

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。」

English Translation 

Zihgong asked: Is there a single sentence that can be used for life?

Confucius said: That will be forgiveness. The thing you are not willing to do, don't force it upon others.

Passage Four Hundred and Seven 

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。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Who have I spoken ill of? Who have I spoken in favour of? Every person I spoke in favour of, their characters have all been tested. People of previous eras, all do things that way. So, they all walk the right path.

Passage Four Hundred and Eight 

子曰:「吾猶及史之闕文也,有馬者借人乘之。今亡矣夫!」

English Translation 

Confucius said: There is a time, where I can still see blanks, in the history book, because they are not certain about the accuracy, of the written record. Things like this don't happen anymore.

Passage Four Hundred and Nine 

子曰:「巧言亂德,小不忍則亂大謀。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If you like to listen to charming words, you would lose your way. If you cannot endure little things, you would screw up major plans.

Note: The US is able to bomb and destroy a major ISIS HQ because an ISIS soldier blabs about the location of the HQ on Facebook.

Passage Four Hundred and Ten 

子曰:「眾惡之,必察焉;眾好之,必察焉。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If everybody hates him, you need to understand the reason. If everybody loves him, you must understand the reason.

Passage Four Hundred and Eleven 

子曰:「人能弘道,非道弘人。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: People can encourage justice, not justice encouraging people.

Passage Four Hundred and Twelve 

子曰:「過而不改,是謂過矣。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If you made a mistake and won't change, then you are making a further mistake, upon the original mistake.

Passage Four Hundred and Thirteen 

子曰:「吾嘗終日不食,終夜不寢,以思,無益,不如學也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: I once thought for day and night, without eating or sleeping. Yet, I gain nothing. Learning is much more effective.

Passage Four Hundred and Fourteen 

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。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A true gentleman won't beg to be rich, he persuade principle. If you got nothing to eat, can't you grow crops yourself? If you are well educated, you can use your knowledge to improve the situation. So, a gentleman is only worried about not able to learn, not worry about been poor.

Note: During the dark and middle ages, Europe suppress any knowledge that contradict the religion view of the Catholic Church, especially science, as a result Europe was not only technologically backwards, but also a third world region.

Passage Four Hundred and Fifteen 

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

English Translation 

Confucius said: Those who got power via knowledge but not humane, even if he got it, he will still lose it. Those who gain power via knowledge and is humane, but is not keen in governing, won't be respected by the peasants. Those who gain power via knowledge has good character, keen in governing, but his action isn't of good manners, that is still not good enough.

Passage Four Hundred and Sixteen 

子曰:「君子不可小知,而可大受也;小人不可大受,而可小知也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A true gentleman might not get recognized for minor achievement, but have what it take to achieve greatness. A little man, can get recognition for minor achievement, but cannot achieve greatness.

Passage Four Hundred and Seventeen 

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。」

English Translation

Confucius said: Humane is more important for the peasants, then water and fire. I've seen people died due to jumping into water or fire. But I've never seen a person died for been humane.

Passage Four Hundred and Eighteen 

子曰:「當仁不讓於師。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If it is to conduct actions of humane and justice, you don't need to be polite, even in front of your master.

Passage Four Hundred and Nineteen 

子曰:「君子貞而不諒。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A gentleman care about the big picture and don't dwell upon minor events.

Passage Four Hundred and Twenty 

子曰:「事君,敬其事而後其食。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: When working for an employer. Focus on doing your job well, before thinking about your wage.

Passage Four Hundred and Twenty One 

子曰:「有教無類。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Everybody has the right to receive an education.

Passage Four Hundred and Twenty Two 

子曰:「道不同,不相為謀。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If the two of you have different principles, it is unwise to work together to complete a project.


Passage Four Hundred and Twenty Three 

子曰:「辭達而已矣。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Words are only there to serve the purpose of communication.

Passage Four Hundred and Twenty Four 

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。」

 English Translation 

A musician from Lu nation comes to visit Confucius.

Confucius walk to the stage and said: This is the stage.

Confucius then walked to the audience seat and said: This is where the audiences sit.

After all the audience has sat down, Confucius said: Some people sit here, some people sit there.

After the musician is gone, Zihjhang asked: Is this how you talk to a blind man?

Confucius said: Yes, this is how you help a blind person.

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Friday, May 25, 2018

The Analects of Confucius: Scroll Sixteen

The Analects of Confucius: Scroll Fourteen

Passage Three Hundred and Thirty Seven 

憲問恥。子曰:「邦有道,穀;邦無道,穀,恥也。」

English Translation 

Sang asked: What is an embarrassment?

Confucius said: When the King is just, you can serve him. But if the King is evil and you serve him. That is an embarrassment.

Passage Three Hundred and Thirty Eight 

「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。」

English Translation 

Asked: If one would control his competitive nature. Not brag about his achievements. Control his hate and greedy nature, is he humane?

Confucius said: If someone can do this, it is really unusual. It is related to been humane, but it is not humane.

Passage Three Hundred and Thirty Nine 

子曰:「士而懷居,不足以為士矣。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If a paladin wants to stay at home, then he should not be a paladin.

Passage Three Hundred and Forty 

子曰:「邦有道,危言危行;邦無道,危行言孫。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: When there is a good King, your action should be just and your speech must be just. When the King is evil, your action should be just, but your speech must be careful.

Passage Three Hundred and Forty One 

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。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Those who are moral must be a good public speaker. Those who are good public speakers are not necessarily moral. Those who are brave and moral will have courage. Those who have courage are not necessarily moral or brave.

Note: It requires a great deal of courage to be a suicide bomber, but Taliban suicide bombers, are anything but truly moral.

Passage Three Hundred and Forty Two 

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!」

English Translation 

Nangongkuo asked Confucius: Yi is a good archer. Ao is extremely good at naval battles. But these two people don't get along. However, Yu who is just a farmer won the right to rule the world.

After Nangongkuo finished talking, Confucius said nothing.

After Nangongkuo left the room Confucius said: This person is a true gentleman, he do not worship violence.

Passage Three Hundred and Forty Three 

子曰:「君子而不仁者有矣夫,未有小人而仁者也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A true gentleman might not act humane sometime. But a savage is never humane.

Passage Three Hundred and Forty Four 

子曰:「愛之,能勿勞乎?忠焉,能勿誨乎?」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If you love somebody, can you not let her know, the sort of hardship she might face? If you are loyal to somebody, can you not condemn him, if he is doing something wrong?

Passage Three Hundred and Forty Five 

子曰:「為命:裨諶草創之,世叔討論之,行人子羽脩飾之,東里子產潤色之。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Jheng nation's speech, in international diplomacy assembly, start with a draft written by a first person. It is then discussed by a second person. After that, it had a diplomat, making the sentence sound better and finally, has the fourth person to make it sound grander.

Passage Three Hundred and Forty Six 

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。」

English Translation 

Somebody asked: What sort of person is Zihchan.

Confucius answer: A kind person.

That person then asked about Zihsi.

Confucius said: Him, him...

That person then asked about Guanjhong.

Confucius said: He is a talented man. The head of the Bo family lost a lot of his royal lands, due to his policy. Since then, Bo can only afford a simpler life. Yet, Bo has no complaint about the decision.

Passage Three Hundred and Forty Seven 

子曰:「貧而無怨難,富而無驕易。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: It is hard for a person to be poor and have no complaint. It is easier for a person to be rich, but not arrogant.    

Passage Three Hundred and Forty Eight 

子曰:「孟公綽,為趙魏老則優,不可以為滕薛大夫。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Menggongchuo have what it take to be Jhao family and Wei family's chief of staff, but we cannot use him as Prime Minister of Teng nation or Syue, these two smaller nations.

Passage Three Hundred and Forty Nine 

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。」

English Translation 

Zihlu asked: What is a perfect human?

Confucius said: To have wisdom like Zhanwujhong. To be not greedy, like Menggongchuo. To be brave, like Siajhuangzih. Have many talents, like Ranciou. Then use manners to decorate yourself. Then you are a perfect human.

Confucius then said: In this day and age, who count as a perfect human? When he sees an advantage, he would think of whether taking it, is just. When he sees a person in danger, he would risk his life to protect that person. During a time of hardship, he would not forget his commitments. This would be enough to call him a perfect human.

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty 

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?」

English Translation 

Confucius asked Gongmingjia about Gongshuwunzih, saying: Really? Is senior him, really a person who don't talk, don't laugh and won't be willing to receive things?

Gongmingjia said: That is a rumour, senior he, only speak when he needs to speak. Only laugh when there is something to laugh about. Only receive when he is worthy to receive. Thus, is why, people don't hate him when he receive something.

Confucius said: So that is the truth. Really?

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty One 

子曰:「臧武仲以防求為後於魯,雖曰不要君,吾不信也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Zangwujhong said, he is willing to give up his land and title if the King appoints him, to be the Prime Minister. Although, he said, it is not his intention, to conduct a hostile takeover, of the nation, I believe that is exactly, what he is doing.

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty Two 

子曰:「晉文公譎而不正,齊桓公正而不譎。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Mr. Jingwun is cunning, but not just. Mr. Cihuan, is just, but not cunning.

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty Three 

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!」

English Translation 

Zihlu said: Mr. Cihuan killed the Prince, then gather the public and killed himself. Gwanzhon on the other hand, won't die. Thus, is Guanjhong a humane person?

Confucius said: Mr. Cihuan is able to get the nobles, to be subjected to him, without raising arms and the country remains peaceful, that is all thanks to Guanjhong. Thus, Guanjhong is also humane.

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty Four 

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。」

English Translation 

Zihgong said: Guanjhong is not humane, right? Mr. Cihuan killed the Prince. Guanjhong won't cry for the prince, instead he becomes the Prime Minister, in the new dynasty.

Confucius said: As Prime Minister, Guanjhong helped the new King to get all the nobles with powers to be subject to a clean and just government. Now, all the peasants have benefited from his policy. Without Guanjhong, the peasants still need to be harassed by the corrupt previous region. Should we really blame him, for what he did and choose to let the peasants, keep living in the ditch that nobody knows about?

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty Five 

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。」

English Translation 

Gongshuwunzih appointed a servant of his home to be a minister in the government, with a position completely equal to him.

After hearing about it, Confucius said: Gongsuwunzih is a truly cultured man.

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty Six 

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?」

English Translation 

 When talking about what sort of King is Mr. Weilinggong, Confucius refer to him as somebody with no principle.

Jikangzih asked: If that is the case, why is his country still prospering?

Confucius said: He knows to use the right people, to be in charge of nation affair, the right person, to be in charge of affairs in relationship to the gods, the right person to be in charge of the military. So what if he is a stupid King? How could his country possibly fail?

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty Seven 

子曰:「其言之不怍,則為之也難。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If a person dares to make any form of empty promise, then when it comes to executing those promise, he would have a lot of problems.

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty Eight 

陳成子弒簡公。孔子沐浴而朝,告於哀公曰:「陳恆弒其君,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: 「以吾從大夫之後,不敢不告也。」

English Translation 

Chenchengzih killed Mr. Cijian. After practicing vegetarian and bath, Confucius went into the government chamber and said to Mr. A: Chenhengih killed his King, please send troops to deal with him.

Mr. A didn't have the authority to make this decision and said: Go and talk to the three of them.

After leaving the government chamber, Confucius said: It is because I am the Prime Minister, that I must inform the King when something so serious has happened. Yet, the King, tell me to go and talk to the three of them.

After informing the three families, they all refuse consent, to deploy troops.

Confucius said: Because I am the Prime Minister, so I must talk about this matter.

Passage Three Hundred and Fifty Nine 

子路問事君。子曰:「勿欺也,而犯之。」

English Translation 

Zihlu asked about, how to work for a King.

Confucius said: Don't lie to your King and advise him, to the best of your ability.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty 

子曰:「君子上達,小人下達。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A true gentleman follow the law of justice. A savage only cares about his own greedy interest.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty One 

子曰:「古之學者為己,今之學者為人。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Students of ancient days, study to fulfil himself. People, who study today, study to gain higher social status.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty Two 

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!」

English Translation 

Pengboyu sent a diplomat, to visit Confucius on his behalf.

Confucius welcomes the diplomat to sit down and then asked: What have Mr. Peng been up to lately.

The diplomat respond: He hopes to decrease his mistake, but, haven't been able to do it.

After the diplomat left, Confucius said: He is a good diplomat.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty Three 

子曰:「不在其位,不謀其政。」曾子曰:「君子思不出其位。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: If you are not on that position, don't worry about affairs of such position.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty Four 

曾子曰:「君子思不出其位。」

English Translation 

Zengzih said: A gentleman never thinks about issues that are out of his position.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty Five 

子曰:「君子恥其言而過其行。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: When a gentleman cannot keep his word, he felt embarrass by it.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty Six 

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。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: There are three moral of a gentleman that I have not yet achieve. Be humane, but not worried. Be educated, but not get confused. Be brave and have no fear.

Zihgong said: Master is talking about himself.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty Seven 

子貢方人。子曰:「賜也賢乎哉?夫我則不暇。」

English Translation 

Zihgong spread a rumour about a person

Confucius said: Zihgong, are you perfect? I don't have that sort of time.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty Eight 

子曰:「不患人之不己知,患其不能也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Don't worry about people not understanding you, worry about yourself not having the ability required.

Passage Three Hundred and Sixty Nine 

子曰:「不逆詐,不億不信。抑亦先覺者,是賢乎!」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Don't speculate other people cheating on you, beforehand. Don't speculate other people for been not honest, beforehand. If you can know a person is trying to cheat you or not been honest, beforehand, then you would be a Saint.

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy 

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。」

English Translation 

Weishengmu said to Confucius: Why do you travel the world, trying to persuade each King? Are you trying to show off your ability in debates?

Confucius said: I am not trying to show off my ability in debates, but, because, I don't want to see the increase corruption, in our world.

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy One 

子曰:「驥不稱其力,稱其德也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: While examining a horse, don't look at how strong it is. Look at its quality.

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy Two 

或曰:「以德報怨,何如?」子曰:「何以報德?以直報怨,以德報德。」

 English Translation 

A person said: To use kindness to face hate, what do you think?

Confucius said: Then how do we repay a kindness? We should use justice to face hate and use kindness to repay a kindness.

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy Three 

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!」

English Translation 

Confucius said: Nobody understands me.

Zihgong said: Why nobody understands you?

Confucius said: Not to blame the gods or other people, for your own unfortunate. After been educated, I understand these principles. I guess only heaven understand me.

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy Four 

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!」

English Translation 

Gongboliao defamed Zihlu in front of Jisunshih.

Zihfujingbo told Confucius about this and said: Jisunhih might have been manipulated, but I still have the ability to kill Gongboliao and hang his head in the market.

Confucius said: To be able to let your dream come true, depends on the time. Not be able to let your dream come true, also depend on the time. If the time is right, what can Gongboliao do about it?

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy Five 

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。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: A wise man avoids a corrupt society. A wise man avoids a place of political instability. A wise man avoids the look of contempt. A wise man avoids a bad man's word.

Confucius said: I have seen seven people that have done this.

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy Six 

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?」

English Translation 

Zihlu slept in front of the stone gate. The guards in front of the gate said: Where are you from?

Zihlu responds: From Confucius.

The guard respond: A person who lies about, been from a place, he can have no chance, of been from.

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy Seven 

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。」

English Translation 

Confucius was playing music in Wei nation. A person walked past the door and said: The person playing the lutes has the heart.

Then this person said: The insistence on a simplicity and lack of sophistication in the music. So, what if nobody understand the music? Don't worry about that. There is a passage in the books that said "If the water is deep, take off your cloth and swim over, if the water is shallow, pull your cloth up and walk over"

Confucius said: That is so straight forward. There is nothing else to say about him.

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy Eight 

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。」

English Translation 

Zihjhang said: In the book it wrote, "Shang Kingdom's King's way of remembering the death of his parents, is that, he don't attend, political affair for three years" what do that mean?

Confucius said: It is not just the King. That is how people in that era do things. During those three years, the Prime Minister is the one that ruled on the King's behalf.

Passage Three Hundred and Seventy Nine 

子曰:「上好禮,則民易使也。」

English Translation 

Confucius said: When the King, act in a good manner, the peasants would be willing to follow him.

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty

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

English Translation

Zihlu asked Confucius about how to be a gentleman.

Confucius said: Train yourself to be respectful

Zihlu asked: Is that enough?

Confucius said: Train yourself to let your family be happy and peaceful.

Zihlu asked: Would that be enough?

Confucius said: Train yourself to let the peasant be happy and peaceful. But, for you to train yourself, to let all the peasants be happy and peaceful, not even the wisest Kings of the past are not able to do it.

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty One 

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。

English Translation 

 Yuanrangcha sat in a very impolite manner to wait for Confucius, Confucius said: When you were young, you have no manners, now as an adult, you have no achievement. To make matter worse, you always make things worse for people. 

And then slap him on his foot.

Passage Three Hundred and Eighty Two 

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。」

English Translation 

A child from Confucius relative was sent to come to Confucius.

Somebody asked: Is this a person who comes here, wanting to learn?

Confucius said: I've seen him walk along side my relative, he is not here, asking to be a student, he has some urgent matter, to see me.

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