子之武城，闻弦歌之声。夫子莞尔而笑曰，割鸡焉用牛刀。子游对曰，昔者偃也，闻诸夫子曰，君子学道则爱人，小人学道则易使也。子曰，二三子，偃之言是也，前言戏之耳。
Modern Chinese Guide
孔子到了武城，听到弹琴唱歌的声音。孔子微微一笑，说：杀鸡何必用宰牛的刀呢？子游回答说：从前我听老师说过，君子学习了礼乐之道就会爱人，百姓学习了礼乐之道就容易听从指使。孔子说：弟子们，言偃的话是对的，我刚才不过是跟他开个玩笑罢了。
James Legge Translation
1. The Master, having come to Wu-ch'ang, heard there the sound of stringed instruments and singing. 2. Well pleased and smiling, he said, "Why use an ox knife to kill a fowl?" 3. Tsze-yu replied, "Formerly, Master, I heard you say,—'When the man of high station is well instructed, he loves men; when the man of low station is well instructed, he is easily ruled.'" 4. The Master said, "My disciples, Yen's words are right. What I said was only in sport."
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。