南宫适问于孔子曰，羿善射，奡荡舟，俱不得其死然，禹稷躬稼，而有天下。夫子不答。南宫适出。子曰，君子哉若人，尙德哉若人。
Modern Chinese Guide
南宫适问孔子说：羿善于射箭，奡能陆地行舟，都没能得到善终；禹和稷亲自耕种庄稼，却得到了天下。孔子没有回答。南宫适出去后，孔子说：这个人真是君子啊！这个人真崇尚德行啊！
James Legge Translation
Nan-kung Kwo, submitting an inquiry to Confucius, said, "I was skillful at archery, and Ao could move a boat along upon the land, but neither of them died a natural death. Yu and Chi personally wrought at the toils of husbandry, and they became possessors of the kingdom." The Master made no reply; but when Nan-kung Kwo went out, he said, "A superior man indeed is this! An esteemer of virtue indeed is this!"
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。