佛肸召。子欲往。子路曰，昔者由也，闻诸夫子曰，亲于其身，为不善者，君子不入也，佛肸以中牟畔，子之往也，如之何。子曰，然，有是言也，不曰坚乎，磨而不磷，不曰白乎，涅而不缁。吾岂匏瓜也哉，焉能系而不食。
Modern Chinese Guide
佛肸来召孔子，孔子想去。子路说：从前我听老师说过，亲自做坏事的人那里，君子是不去的。如今佛肸占据中牟发动叛乱，您却要去，这怎么说得通呢？孔子说：对，我是说过这话。但不是说坚硬的东西吗，磨也磨不薄；不是说洁白的东西吗，染也染不黑。我难道是个匏瓜吗？怎么能只挂在那里而不给人吃呢？
James Legge Translation
1. Pi Hsi inviting him to visit him, the Master was inclined to go. 2. Tsze-lu said, "Master, formerly I have heard you say, 'When a man in his own person is guilty of doing evil, a superior man will not associate with him.' Pi Hsi is in rebellion, holding possession of Chung-mau; if you go to him, what shall be said?" 3. The Master said, "Yes, I did use these words. But is it not said, that, if a thing be really hard, it may be ground without being made thin? Is it not said, that, if a thing be really white, it may be steeped in a dark fluid without being made black? 4. "Am I a bitter gourd! How can I be hung up out of the way of being eaten?"
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。