Analects of Confucius
(Translated by James Legge)
Simplified Chinese Traditional Chinese Chinese Pinyin
BOOK XV. WEI LING KUNG. 卫灵公第十五 衛靈公第十五 wèi líng gōng dì shíwǔ
CHAP. I. 1. The Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about tactics. Confucius replied, 'I have heard all about sacrificial vessels, but I have not learned military matters.' On this, he took his departure the next day. 【第一章】【一节】卫灵公问陈於孔子。孔子对曰、俎豆之事、则尝闻之矣、 军旅之事、未之学也。明日遂行。 【第一章】【一節】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。 wèi líng gōng wèn chén yú kǒngzǐ kǒngzǐ duì yuē zǔ dòu zhī shì zé cháng wén zhī yǐ jūn lǚ zhī shì wèi zhī xué yě míngrì suì xíng
2. When he was in Chan, their provisions were exhausted, and his followers became so ill that they were unable to rise. 【二节】在陈绝粮、从者病、莫能兴。 【二節】在陳絕糧、從者病、莫能興。 zài chén jué liáng cóng zhě bìng mò néng xìng
3. Tsze-lu, with evident dissatisfaction, said, 'Has the superior man likewise to endure in this way?' The Master said, 'The superior man may indeed have to endure want, but the mean man, when he is in want, gives way to unbridled license.' 【三节】子路愠见曰、君子亦有穷乎。子曰、君子固穷、小人穷斯滥矣。 【三節】子路慍見曰、君子亦有窮乎。子曰、君子固窮、小人窮斯濫矣。 zǐ lù yùn jiàn yuē jūnzǐ yì yǒu qióng hū zǐ yuē jūnzǐ gù qióng xiǎo rén qióng sī làn yǐ
CHAP. II. 1. The Master said, 'Ts'ze, you think, I suppose, that I am one who learns many things and keeps them in memory?' 【第二章】【一节】子曰、赐也、女以予为多学而识之者与。 【第二章】【一節】子曰、賜也、女以予為多學而識之者與。 zǐ yuē cì yě nǚ yǐ yú wéi duō xué ér shí zhī zhě yǔ
2. Tsze-kung replied, 'Yes,-- but perhaps it is not so?' 【二节】对曰、 然、非与。 【二節】對曰、 然、非與。 duì yuē rán fēi yǔ
3. 'No,' was the answer; 'I seek a unity all-pervading.' 【三节】曰、非也、予一以贯之。 【三節】曰、非也、予一以貫之。 yuē fēi yě yú yī yǐ guàn zhī
CHAP. III. The Master said, 'Yu, those who know virtue are few.' 【第三章】子曰、由、知德者鲜矣。 【第三章】子曰、由、知德者鮮矣。 zǐ yuē yóu zhī dé zhě xiān yǐ
CHAP. IV. The Master said, 'May not Shun be instanced as having governed efficiently without exertion? What did he do? He did nothing but gravely and reverently occupy his royal seat.' 【第四章】子曰、无为而治者、其舜也与、夫何为哉、恭己正南面而已矣。 【第四章】子曰、無為而治者、其舜也與、夫何為哉、恭己正南面而已矣。 zǐ yuē wú wéi ér zhì zhě qí shùn yě yǔ fū hé wéi zāi gōng jǐ zhēng nán miàn éryǐ yǐ
CHAP. V. 1. Tsze-chang asked how a man should conduct himself, so as to be everywhere appreciated. 【第五章】【一节】子张问行。 【第五章】【一節】子張問行。 zǐ zhāng wèn xíng
2. The Master said, 'Let his words be sincere and truthful, and his actions honourable and careful;-- such conduct may be practised among the rude tribes of the South or the North. If his words be not sincere and truthful and his actions not honourable and careful, will he, with such conduct, be appreciated, even in his neighborhood? 【二节】子曰、言忠信、行笃敬、虽蛮貊之 邦、行矣、言不忠信、行不笃敬、虽州里、行乎哉。 【二節】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。 zǐ yuē yán zhōng xìn xíng dǔ jìng suī mán mò zhī bāng xíng yǐ yán bù zhōng xìn xíng bù dǔ jìng suī zhōu lǐ xíng hū zāi
3. 'When he is standing, let him see those two things, as it were, fronting him. When he is in a carriage, let him see them attached to the yoke. Then may he subsequently carry them into practice.' 【三节】立、则见其参於前 也、在舆、则见期倚於衡也、夫然後行。 【三節】立、則見其參於前 也、在輿、則見期倚於衡也、夫然後行。 lì zé jiàn qí shēn yú qián yě zài yú zé jiàn qī yǐ yú héng yě fū rán hòu xíng
4. Tsze-chang wrote these counsels on the end of his sash. 【四节】子张书诸绅。 【四節】子張書諸紳。 zǐ zhāng shū zhū shēn
CHAP. VI. 1. The Master said, 'Truly straightforward was the historiographer Yu. When good government prevailed in his State, he was like an arrow. When bad government prevailed, he was like an arrow. 【第六章】【一节】子曰、直哉史鱼、邦有道如矢、邦有道如矢。 【第六章】【一節】子曰、直哉史魚、邦有道如矢、邦有道如矢。 zǐ yuē zhí zāi shǐ yú bāng yǒu dào rú shǐ bāng yǒu dào rú shǐ
2. A superior man indeed is Chu Po-yu! When good government prevails in his state, he is to be found in office. When bad government prevails, he can roll his principles up, and keep them in his breast.' 【二节】 君子哉、蘧伯玉、邦有道、则仕、邦无道、则可卷而怀之。 【二節】 君子哉、蘧伯玉、邦有道、則仕、邦無道、則可卷而懷之。 jūnzǐ zāi qú bó yù bāng yǒu dào zé shì bāng wú dào zé kě juàn ér huái zhī
CHAP. VII. The Master said, 'When a man may be spoken with, not to speak to him is to err in reference to the man. When a man may not be spoken with, to speak to him is to err in reference to our words. The wise err neither in regard to their man nor to their words.' 【第七章】子曰、可与言、而不与之言、失人、不可与言、而与之言、失言、知者不失人、亦不失言。 【第七章】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。 zǐ yuē kě yǔ yán ér bù yǔ zhī yán shī rén bù kě yǔ yán ér yǔ zhī yán shīyán zhī zhě bù shī rén yì bù shīyán
CHAP. VIII. The Master said, 'The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.' 【第八章】子曰、志士、仁人、无求生以害仁、有杀身以成仁。 【第八章】子曰、志士、仁人、無求生以害仁、有殺身以成仁。 zǐ yuē zhìshì rén rén wú qiú shēng yǐ hài rén yǒu shā shēn yǐ chéng rén
CHAP. IX. Tsze-kung asked about the practice of virtue. The Master said, 'The mechanic, who wishes to do his work well, must first sharpen his tools. When you are living in any state, take service with the most worthy among its great officers, and make friends of the most virtuous among its scholars.' 【第九章】子贡问为仁。子曰、工欲善其事、必先利其器、居是邦也、事其 大夫之贤者、友其士之仁者。 【第九章】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。【 zǐ gòng wèn wéi rén zǐ yuē gōng yù shàn qí shì bì xiān lì qí qì jū shì bāng yě shì qí dàifū zhī xián zhě yǒu qí shì zhī rén zhě
CHAP. X. 1. Yen Yuan asked how the government of a country should be administered. 【第十章】【一节】颜渊问为邦。 第十章】【一節】顏淵問為邦。 yán yuān wèn wéi bāng
2. The Master said, 'Follow the seasons of Hsia. 【二节】子曰、行夏之时。 【二節】子曰、行夏之時。 zǐ yuē xíng xià zhī shí
3. 'Ride in the state carriage of Yin. 【三节】乘殷之辂。 【三節】乘殷之輅。 chéng yīn zhī lù
4. 'Wear the ceremonial cap of Chau. 【四节】服周之冕。 【四節】服周之冕。 fù zhōu zhī miǎn
5. 'Let the music be the Shao with its pantomimes. 【五节】乐则韶舞。 【五節】樂則韶舞。 yuè zé sháo wǔ
6. Banish the songs of Chang, and keep far from specious talkers. The songs of Chang are licentious; specious talkers are dangerous.' 【六节】 放郑声、远佞人、郑声淫、佞人殆。 【六節】 放鄭聲、遠佞人、鄭聲淫、佞人殆。 fàng zhèng shēng yuǎn nìng rén zhèng shēng yín nìng rén dài
CHAP. XI. The Master said, 'If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.' 【十一章】子曰、人无远虑、必有近忧。 【十一章】子曰、人無遠慮、必有近憂。 zǐ yuē rén wú yuǎnlǜ bì yǒu jìn yōu
CHAP. XII. The Master said, 'It is all over! I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty.' 【十二章】子曰、已矣乎、吾未见好德如好色者也。 【十二章】子曰、已矣乎、吾未見好德如好色者也。 zǐ yuē yǐ yǐ hū wú wèi jiàn hào dé rú hàosè zhě yě
CHAP. XIII. The Master said, 'Was not Tsang Wan like one who had stolen his situation? He knew the virtue and the talents of Hui of Liu-hsia, and yet did not procure that he should stand with him in court.' 【十三章】子曰、臧文仲、其窃位者与、知柳下惠之贤、而不与立也。 【十三章】子曰、臧文仲、其竊位者與、知柳下惠之賢、而不與立也。 zǐ yuē zāng wén zhòng qí qiè wèi zhě yǔ zhī liǔ xià huì zhī xián ér bù yǔ lì yě
CHAP. XIV. The Master said, 'He who requires much from himself and little from others, will keep himself from being the object of resentment.' 【十四章】子曰、躬自厚、而薄责於人、则远怨矣。 【十四章】子曰、躬自厚、而薄責於人、則遠怨矣。 zǐ yuē gōng zì hòu ér báo zé yú rén zé yuǎn yuàn yǐ
CHAP. XV. The Master said, 'When a man is not in the habit of saying-- "What shall I think of this? What shall I think of this?" I can indeed do nothing with him!' 【十五章】子曰、不曰如之何、如之何者、吾末如之何也已矣。 【十五章】子曰、不曰如之何、如之何者、吾末如之何也已矣。 zǐ yuē bù yuē rú zhī hé rú zhī hé zhě wú mò rú zhī hé yě yǐ yǐ
CHAP. XVI. The Master said, 'When a number of people are together, for a whole day, without their conversation turning on righteousness, and when they are fond of carrying out the suggestions of a small shrewdness;-- theirs is indeed a hard case.' 【十六章】子曰、群居终日、言不及义、好行小慧、难矣哉。 【十六章】子曰、群居終日、言不及義、好行小慧、難矣哉。 zǐ yuē qún jū zhōng rì yán bù jí yì hào xíng xiǎo huì nán yǐ zāi
CHAP. XVII. The Master said, 'The superior man in everything considers righteousness to be essential. He performs it according to the rules of propriety. He brings it forth in humility. He completes it with sincerity. This is indeed a superior man.' 【十七章】子曰、君子义以为质、礼以行之、孙以出之、信以成之、君子哉。 【十七章】子曰、君子義以為質、禮以行之、孫以出之、信以成之、君子哉。 zǐ yuē jūnzǐ yì yǐwéi zhì lǐ yǐ xíng zhī sūn yǐ chū zhī xìn yǐ chéng zhī jūnzǐ zāi
CHAP. XVIII. The Master said, 'The superior man is distressed by his want of ability. He is not distressed by men's not knowing him.' 【十八章】子曰、君子病无能焉、不病人之不己知也。 【十八章】子曰、君子病無能焉、不病人之不己知也。 zǐ yuē jūnzǐ bìng wúnéng yān bù bìngrén zhī bù jǐ zhī yě
CHAP. XIX. The Master said, 'The superior man dislikes the thought of his name not being mentioned after his death.' 【十九章】子曰、君子疾没世、而名不称焉。 【十九章】子曰、君子疾沒世、而名不稱焉。 zǐ yuē jūnzǐ jí mò shì ér míng bù chèn yān
CHAP. XX. The Master said, 'What the superior man seeks, is in himself. What the mean man seeks, is in others.' 【二十章】子曰、君子求诸己、小人求诸人。 【二十章】子曰、君子求諸己、小人求諸人。 zǐ yuē jūnzǐ qiú zhū jǐ xiǎo rén qiú zhū rén
CHAP. XXI. The Master said, 'The superior man is dignified, but does not wrangle. He is sociable, but not a partizan.' 【廿一章】子曰、君子矜而不争、群而不党。 【廿一章】子曰、君子矜而不爭、群而不黨。 zǐ yuē jūnzǐ jīn ér bù zhēng qún ér bù dǎng
CHAP. XXII. The Master said, 'The superior man does not promote a man simply on account of his words, nor does he put aside good words because of the man.' 【廿二章】子曰、君子不以言举人、不以人废言。 【廿二章】子曰、君子不以言舉人、不以人廢言。 zǐ yuē jūnzǐ bù yǐ yán jǔ rén bù yǐ rén fèi yán
CHAP. XXIII. Tsze-kung asked, saying, 'Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?' The Master said, 'Is not RECIPROCITY such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.' 【廿三章】子贡问曰、有一言、而可以终身行之者乎。子曰、其恕乎、己所 不欲、勿施於 人。 【廿三章】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。 zǐ gòng wèn yuē yǒu yī yán ér kěyǐ zhōngshēn xíng zhī zhě hū zǐ yuē qí shù hū jǐ suǒ bù yù wù shī yú rén
CHAP. XXIV. 1. The Master said, 'In my dealings with men, whose evil do I blame, whose goodness do I praise, beyond what is proper? If I do sometimes exceed in praise, there must be ground for it in my examination of the individual. 【廿四章】【一节】子曰、吾之於人也谁毁、谁誉、如有所誉者、其有所试 矣。 【廿四章】【一節】子曰、吾之於人也誰毀、誰譽、如有所譽者、其有所試 矣。 zǐ yuē wú zhī yú rén yě shéi huǐ shéi yù rú yǒusuǒ yù zhě qí yǒusuǒ shì yǐ
2. 'This people supplied the ground why the three dynasties pursued the path of straightforwardness.' 【二节】斯民也、三代之所以直道而行也。 【二節】斯民也、三代之所以直道而行也。 sī mín yě sān dài zhī suǒyǐ zhí dào ér xíng yě
CHAP. XXV. The Master said, 'Even in my early days, a historiographer would leave a blank in his text, and he who had a horse would lend him to another to ride. Now, alas! there are no such things.' 【廿五章】子曰、吾犹及史之阙文也、有马者、借人乘之、今亡矣夫。 【廿五章】子曰、吾猶及史之闕文也、有馬者、借人乘之、今亡矣夫。 zǐ yuē wú yóu jí shǐ zhī què wén yě yǒu mǎ zhě jiè rén chéng zhī jīn wáng yǐ fū
CHAP. XXVI. The Master said, 'Specious words confound virtue. Want of forbearance in small matters confounds great plans.' 【廿六章】子曰、巧言乱德、小不忍、则乱大谋。 【廿六章】子曰、巧言亂德、小不忍、則亂大謀。 zǐ yuē qiǎo yán luàn dé xiǎo bùrěn zé luàn dà móu
CHAP. XXVII. The Master said, 'When the multitude hate a man, it is necessary to examine into the case. When the multitude like a man, it is necessary to examine into the case.' 【廿七章】子曰、众恶之、必察焉、众好之、必察焉。 【廿七章】子曰、眾惡之、必察焉、眾好之、必察焉。 zǐ yuē zhòng è zhī bì chá yān zhòng hào zhī bì chá yān
CHAP. XXVIII. The Master said, 'A man can enlarge the principles which he follows; those principles do not enlarge the man.' 【廿八章】子曰、人能弘道、非道弘人。 【廿八章】子曰、人能弘道、非道弘人。 zǐ yuē rén néng hóng dào fēi dào hóng rén
CHAP. XXIX. The Master said, 'To have faults and not to reform them,-- this, indeed, should be pronounced having faults.' 【廿九章】子曰、过而不改、是谓过矣。 【廿九章】子曰、過而不改、是謂過矣。 zǐ yuē guò ér bù gǎi shì wèi guò yǐ
CHAP. XXX. The Master said, 'I have been the whole day without eating, and the whole night without sleeping:-- occupied with thinking. It was of no use. The better plan is to learn.' 【三十章】子曰、吾尝终日不食、终夜不寝、以思、无益、不如学也。 【三十章】子曰、吾嘗終日不食、終夜不寢、以思、無益、不如學也。 zǐ yuē wú cháng zhōng rì bù shí zhōng yè bù qǐn yǐ sī wú yì bùrú xué yě
CHAP. XXXI. The Master said, 'The object of the superior man is truth. Food is not his object. There is plowing;-- even in that there is sometimes want. So with learning;-- emolument may be found in it. The superior man is anxious lest he should not get truth; he is not anxious lest poverty should come upon him.' 【卅一章】子曰、君子谋道不谋食、耕也、馁在其中矣、学也、禄在其中矣、 君子忧道、不忧贫。 【卅一章】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。 zǐ yuē jūnzǐ móu dào bù móu shí gēng yě něi zài qízhōng yǐ xué yě lù zài qízhōng yǐ jūnzǐ yōu dào bù yōu pín
CHAP. XXXII. 1. The Master said, 'When a man's knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again. 【卅二章】【一节】子曰、知及之、仁不能守之、虽得之、必失之。 【卅二章】【一節】子曰、知及之、仁不能守之、雖得之、必失之。 zǐ yuē zhī jí zhī rén bùnéng shǒu zhī suī de zhī bì shī zhī
2. 'When his knowledge is sufficient to attain, and he has virtue enough to hold fast, if he cannot govern with dignity, the people will not respect him. 【二节】 知及之、仁能守之、不庄以莅之、则民不敬。 【二節】 知及之、仁能守之、不莊以蒞之、則民不敬。 zhī jí zhī rén néng shǒu zhī bù zhuāng yǐ lì zhī zé mín bù jìng
3. 'When his knowledge is sufficient to attain, and he has virtue enough to hold fast; when he governs also with dignity, yet if he try to move the people contrary to the rules of propriety:-- full excellence is not reached.' 【三节】知及之、仁能守之、 庄以莅之、动之不以礼、未善也。 【三節】知及之、仁能守之、 莊以蒞之、動之不以禮、未善也。 zhī jí zhī rén néng shǒu zhī zhuāng yǐ lì zhī dòng zhī bù yǐ lǐ wèi shàn yě
CHAP. XXXIII. The Master said, 'The superior man cannot be known in little matters; but he may be intrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be intrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters.' 【卅三章】子曰、君子不可小知、而可大受也、小人不可大受、而可小知也。 【卅三章】子曰、君子不可小知、而可大受也、小人不可大受、而可小知也。 zǐ yuē jūnzǐ bù kě xiǎo zhī ér kě dà shòu yě xiǎo rén bù kě dà shòu ér kě xiǎo zhī yě
CHAP. XXXIV. The Master said, 'Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.' 【卅四章】子曰、民之於仁也、甚於水火、水火吾见蹈而死者矣、未见蹈仁 而死者也。 【卅四章】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。 zǐ yuē mín zhī yú rén yě shèn yú shuǐhuǒ shuǐhuǒ wú jiàn dǎo ér sǐzhě yǐ wèi jiàn dǎo rén ér sǐzhě yě
CHAP. XXXV. The Master said, 'Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher.' 【卅五章】子曰、当仁、不让於师。 【卅五章】子曰、當仁、不讓於師。 zǐ yuē dàng rén bù ràng yú shī
CHAP. XXXVI. The Master said, 'The superior man is correctly firm, and not firm merely.' 【卅六章】子曰、君子贞、而不谅。 【卅六章】子曰、君子貞、而不諒。 zǐ yuē jūnzǐ zhēn ér bù liàng
CHAP. XXXVII. The Master said, 'A minister, in serving his prince, reverently discharges his duties, and makes his emolument a secondary consideration.' 【卅七章】子曰、事君敬其事、而後其食。 【卅七章】子曰、事君敬其事、而後其食。 zǐ yuē shì jūn jìng qí shì ér hòu qí shí
CHAP. XXXVIII. The Master said, 'In teaching there should be no distinction of classes.' 【卅八章】子曰、有教、无类。 【卅八章】子曰、有教、無類。 zǐ yuē yǒu jiāo wú lèi
CHAP. XXXIX. The Master said, 'Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another.' 【卅九章】子曰、道不同、不相为谋。 【卅九章】子曰、道不同、不相為謀。 zǐ yuē dào bùtóng bù xiāng wéi móu
CHAP. XL. The Master said, 'In language it is simply required that it convey the meaning.' 【四十章】子曰、辞、达而已矣。 【四十章】子曰、辭、達而已矣。 zǐ yuē cí dá éryǐ yǐ
CHAP. XLI. 1. The Music-master, Mien, having called upon him, when they came to the steps, the Master said, 'Here are the steps.' When they came to the mat for the guest to sit upon, he said, 'Here is the mat.' When all were seated, the Master informed him, saying, 'So and so is here; so and so is here.' 【四一章】【一节】师冕见、及阶、子曰、阶也。及席、子曰、席也。皆坐、子告之曰、某在斯、某在斯。 【四一章】【一節】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。 shī miǎn jiàn jí jiē zǐ yuē jiē yě jí xí zǐ yuē xí yě jiē zuò zǐ gào zhī yuē mǒu zài sī mǒu zài sī
2. The Music-master, Mien, having gone out, Tsze-chang asked, saying. 'Is it the rule to tell those things to the Music- master?' 【二节】师冕出、子张问曰、与师言之 道与。 【二節】師冕出、子張問曰、與師言之 道與。 shī miǎn chū zǐ zhāng wèn yuē yǔ shī yán zhī dào yǔ
3. The Master said, 'Yes. This is certainly the rule for those who lead the blind.' 【三节】子曰、然、固相师之道也。 【三節】子曰、然、固相師之道也。 zǐ yuē rán gù xiāng shī zhī dào yě

Ref: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/4094/4094-h/4094-h.htm