子曰，法语之言，能无从乎，改之为贵，巽与之言，能无说乎，绎之为贵，说而不绎，从而不改，吾末如之何也已矣。
Modern Chinese Guide
孔子说：合乎礼法的严正劝告，谁能不听从呢？但可贵的是照着改正。恭顺赞许的话，谁听了能不高兴呢？但可贵的是加以分析。只是高兴却不分析，只是听从却不改正，这样的人我也拿他没有办法了。
James Legge Translation
The Master said, "Can men refuse to assent to the words of strict admonition? But it is reforming the conduct because of them which is valuable. Can men refuse to be pleased with words of gentle advice? But it is unfolding their aim which is valuable. If a man be pleased with these words, but does not unfold their aim, and assents to those, but does not reform his conduct, I can really do nothing with him."
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。