子曰，圣人吾不得而见之矣，得见君子者，斯可矣。子曰，善人吾不得而见之矣，得见有恒者，斯可矣。亡而为有，虚而为盈，约而为泰，难乎有恒矣。
Modern Chinese Guide
孔子说：圣人我是见不到了，能见到君子就可以了。孔子又说：善人我是见不到了，能见到有恒心的人也就可以了。本来没有却装作有，本来空虚却装作充实，本来贫乏却装作富足，这样的人是很难有恒心的。
James Legge Translation
1. The Master said, "A sage it is not mine to see; could I see a man of real talent and virtue, that would satisfy me." 2. The Master said, "A good man it is not mine to see; could I see a man possessed of constancy, that would satisfy me. 3. "Having not and yet affecting to have, empty and yet affecting to be full, straitened and yet affecting to be at ease:—it is difficult with such characteristics to have constancy."
Source: James Legge, public domain, 1893.
Notes
- 底本：Wikisource 整理的 James Legge《The Chinese Classics》公版中英文本（1893–1895）。
- 简体化：原文由繁体转为简体（OpenCC），与公版英译逐句对应。
- 白话参考底本：《白话论语读本》，张兆瑢、沈元起编译，上海广益书局1948 年新三版。