le keep away from wrong—doing, but they will lose the sense of
shame for wrong –doing. If, on the other hand, in government you
depend upon the moral sentiment, and maintain order by encouraging
education and good manners, the people will have a sense of shame
for wrong—doing and moreover, will emulate what is good.”
子曰:“吾十有五而志于学,三十而立,四十而不惑,五十而知天命,六十而耳顺,七十而从心所欲不逾矩。”
4.
Confucius
remarked, “ At fifteen I had made up my mind to give myself up to
serious studies. At thirty I had formed my opinions and judgment.
At forty I had no more doubts. At fifty I understood the truth in
religion. At sixty I could understand whatever I heard without
exertion. At seventy I could follow whatever my heart desired
without transgressing the law.”
孟懿子问孝,子曰:“无违。”樊迟御,子告之曰:“孟孙问孝于我,我对曰无违。”樊迟曰:“何谓也。”子曰:“生,事之以礼;死,葬之以礼,祭之以礼。”
5.
A noble of the
Court in Confucius’ native State asked him what constituted the
duty of a good son. Confucius answered, “ Do not fail in what is
required of you.”
Afterwards, as a disciple was driving him in his carriage,
Confucius told the disciple, saying, My Lord M ----asked me what
constituted the duty of a good son, and I answered, ‘ Do not fail
in what is required of you’”
“What did you mean by that?” asked the disciple.
“ I meant,” replied Confucius, “when his parents are living, a good
son should do his duties to them according to the usage prescribed
by
propriety; when
the are dead, he should bury them and honour their memory according
to the rites prescribed by propriety.”
孟武伯问孝,子曰:“父母唯其疾之忧。
6.
A son of the
noble mentioned above put the same question to Confucius as his
father did. Confucius answered, “think how anxious your parents are
when you are sick, and you will know your duty towards them.”
子游问孝,子曰:“今之孝者,是谓能养。至于犬马,皆能有养,不敬,何以别乎?”
7.
A disciple of
Confucius asked him the same question as the above. Confucius
answered,” the duty of a good son nowadays means only to be able to
support his parents. But you also keep your dogs and horses alive.
If there is no feeling of love and respect, where is the
difference?
子夏问孝,子曰:“色难。有事,弟子服其劳;有酒食,先生馔,曾是以为孝乎?”
8.
Another disciple
asked the same question. Confucius answered, “The difficulty is
with the expression of your look. That merely when anything is to
be done the young do it, and when there is food and wine the old
folk are allowed to enjoy it, --do you think that is the whole duty
of a good son?”
子曰:“吾与回言,终日不违,如愚。退而省其私,亦足以发,回也不愚。”
9.
Confucius,
speaking of a favourite disciple, whose name was Yen Hui,
remarked,” I have talked with him for one whole day, during which
he has never once raised one single objection to what I have said,
as if he were dull of understanding. But when he has retired, on
examining into his life and conversation I find he has been able to
profit by what I have said to him. No—he is not a man dull of
understanding.”
子曰:“视其所以,观其所由,察其所安,人焉廋哉?人焉廋哉?”
10.
Confucius remarked, “ You look at how a man
acts; consider his motives; find out his tastes. How can a man hide
himself; how can he hide himself from you?”
子曰:“温故而知新,可以为师矣。”
11.
Confucius remarked, “ If a man will constantly
go over what he has acquired and keep continually adding to it new
acquirements, he may become a teacher of men.”
子曰:“君子不器。”
12.
Confucius remarked,” A wise man will not make
himself into a mere machine fit only to do one kind of work.”
子贡问君子。子曰:“先行其言而后从之。”
13.
A disciple enquired what constituted a wise and
good man. Confucius answered, “ A wise and good man is one who acts
before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his
actions.”
子曰:“君子周而不比,小人比而不周。”
14.
Confucius remarked,” A wise man is impartial,
not neutral. A fool is neutral but not impartial.”
子曰:“学而不思则罔,思而不学则殆。”
15.
Confucius remarked,” Study without thinking is
labor lost. Thinking without study is perilous.”
子曰:“攻乎异端,斯害也已。
16.
Confucius remarked, “ To give oneself up to the
study of metaphysical theories – that is very injurious
indeed.”
子曰:“由,诲女,知之乎?知之为知之,不知为不知,是知也。”
17.
Confucius said to a disciple, “ shall I teach
you what is understanding? To know what it is that you know, and to
know what it is that you do not know, --- that is
understanding.”
子张学干禄,子曰:“多闻阙疑,慎言其余,则寡尤;多见阙殆,慎行其余,则寡悔。言寡尤,行寡悔,禄在其中矣。”
18.
A disciple was studying with a view to
preferment. Confucius said to him, “ read and learn everything, but
suspend your judgment on anything of which you are in doubt; for
the rest, be careful in what you say: in that way you will give few
occasions for men to criticize what you say. Mix with the world and
see everything, but keep away and do not meddle with anything which
may bring you into trouble; for the rest, be careful in what you
do: in that way you will have few occasions for
self-reproach.
“Now if in your conversation you give few occasions for men to
criticize you, and in your conduct you have few occasions for
self-reproach, you cannot help getting preferment, even if you
would.”
哀公问曰:“何为则民服?”孔子对曰:“举直错诸枉,则
民服;举枉错诸直,则民不服。”
19.
The reigning prince of his native state asked
Confucius what should be done to secure the submission of the
people. Confucius answered,” Uphold the cause of the just and put
down every cause that is unjust, and the people will submit. But
uphold the cause of the unjust and put down every cause that is
just, then the people will not submit.”
季康子问:“使民敬、忠以劝,如之何?”子曰:“临之以庄,则敬;孝慈,则忠;举善而教不能,则劝。”
20.
A noble who was the minister in power in the
government in Confucius’ native state asked him what should be done
to inspire a feeling of respect and loyalty in the people, in order
to make them exert themselves for the good of the country.
Confucius answered,” Treat them with seriousness and they will
respect you. Let them see that you honour your parents and your
prince, and are considerate for the welfare of those under you, and
the people will be loyal to you. Advance those who excel in
anything and educate the ignorant, and the people will exert
themselves.”
或谓孔子曰:“子奚不为政?”子曰:“《书》云:‘孝乎惟
孝,友于兄弟。’施于有政,是亦为政,奚其为为政?”
21.
Somebody asked Confucius, saying, “Why are you
not taking part in the government of the country?” Confucius
answered, “ What does the ‘BOOK OF RECORDS’ say of the duties of a
good son?”
“’Be dutiful to your parents; be brotherly to your brothers;
discharge your duties in the government of your family.’ These,
then are also duties of government. Why then must one take part in
the government of the country in order to discharge the duties of
government?”
子曰:“人而无信,不知其可也。大车无輗,小车无軏,其何以行之哉?”
22.
Confucius remarked, “ I do not know how men get
along without good faith. A cart without a yoke and a carriage
without harness, --how could they go?”
子张问:“十世可知也?”子曰:殷因于夏礼,所损益可知也;周因于殷礼,所损益可知也。其或继周者,虽百世,可知也。”
23.
A disciple asked Confucius whether ten
generations after their time the state of the civilization of the
world could be known.
Confucius answered, “ The House of Yin adopted the civilization of
the Hsia dynasty; what modifications they made is known. The
present Chou dynasty adopted the civilization of the House of Yin;
what modifications this last dynasty made are also known. Perhaps
some other may hereafter take the place of the present Chou
dynasty; but should that happen a hundred generations after this,
the state of the civilization of the world then, can be
know.”
子曰:“非其鬼而祭之;谄也。见义不为,无勇也。”
24.
Confucius remarked, “To worship a spirit to
whom one is not bound by a real feeling of duty or respect is
idolatry; to see what is right and to act against one’s judgment
shows a want of courage.”