Book of Documents

或谓孔子曰，子奚不为政。子曰，书云孝乎，惟孝友于兄弟，施于有政，是亦为政，奚其为为政。

1. Some one addressed Confucius, saying, "Sir, why are you not engaged in the government?" 2. The Master said, "What does the Shu-ching say of filial piety?—'You are filial, you discharge your brotherly duties. These qualities are displayed in government.' This then also constitutes the exercise of government. Why must there be that —making one be in the government?"

子曰，士志于道，而耻恶衣恶食者，未足与议也。

The Master said, "A scholar, whose mind is set on truth, and who is ashamed of bad clothes and bad food, is not fit to be discoursed with."

子贡曰，夫子之文章，可得而闻也，夫子之言性与天道，不可得而闻也。

Tsze-kung said, "The Master's personal displays of his principles and ordinary descriptions of them may be heard. His discourses about man's nature, and the way of Heaven, cannot be heard."

子所雅言，诗，书，执礼，皆雅言也。

The Master's frequent themes of discourse were—the Odes, the History, and the maintenance of the Rules of Propriety. On all these he frequently discoursed.

子曰，文，莫吾犹人也，躬行君子，则吾未之有得。

The Master said, "In letters I am perhaps equal to other men, but the character of the superior man, carrying out in his conduct what he professes, is what I have not yet attained to."

曾子曰，士，不可以不弘毅，任重而道远。仁以为己任，不亦重乎，死而后已，不亦远乎。

1. The philosopher Tsang said, "The officer may not be without breadth of mind and vigorous endurance. His burden is heavy and his course is long. 2. "Perfect virtue is the burden which he considers it is his to sustain;—is it not heavy? Only with death does his course stop;—is it not long?

子路使子羔为费宰。子曰，贼夫人之子。子路曰，有民人焉，有社稷焉，何必读书，然后为学。子曰，是故恶夫佞者。

1. Tsze-lu got Tsze-kao appointed governor of Pi. 2. The Master said, "You are injuring a man's son." 3. Tsze-lu said, "There are (there) common people and officers; there are the altars of the spirits of the land and grain. Why must one read books before he can be considered to have learned?" 4. The Master said, "It is on this account that I hate your glib-tongued people."

子张问士何如，斯可谓之达矣。子曰，何哉，尔所谓达者。子张对曰，在邦必闻，在家必闻。子曰，是闻也，非达也。夫达也者，质直而好义，察言而观色，虑以下人，在邦必达，在家必达。夫闻也者，色取仁而行违，居之不疑，在邦必闻，在家必闻。

1. Tsze-chang asked, "What must the officer be, who may be said to be distinguished?" 2. The Master said, "What is it you call being distinguished?" 3. Tsze-chang replied, "It is to be heard of through the State, to be heard of throughout his clan." 4. The Master said, "That is notoriety, not distinction. 5. "Now the man of distinction is solid and straightforward, and loves righteousness. He examines people's words, and looks at their countenances. He is anxious to humble himself to others. Such a man will be distinguished in the country; he will be distinguished in his clan. 6. "As to the man of notoriety, he assumes the appearance of virtue, but his actions are opposed to it, and he rests in this character without any doubts about himself. Such a man will be heard of in the country; he will be heard of in the clan."

子曰，士而怀居，不足以为士矣。

The Master said, "The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar."

子张曰，书云，高宗谅阴三年不言，何谓也。子曰，何必高宗，古之人皆然，君薨，百官总己，以听于冢宰，三年。

1. Tsze-chang said, "What is meant when the Shu says that Kao-tsung, while observing the usual imperial mourning, was for three years without speaking?" 2. The Master said, "Why must Kao-tsung be referred to as an example of this? The ancients all did so. When the sovereign died, the officers all attended to their several duties, taking instructions from the prime minister for three years."

子张问行。子曰，言忠信，行笃敬，虽蛮貊之邦行矣。言不忠信，行不笃敬，虽州里行乎哉。立，则见其参于前也，在舆，则见其倚于衡也。夫然后行。子张书诸绅。

1. Tsze-chang asked how a man should conduct himself, so as to be everywhere appreciated. 2. The Master said, "Let his words be sincere and truthful, and his actions honourable and careful;—such conduct may be practised among the rude tribes of the South or the North. If his words be

子张曰，士，见危致命，见得思义，祭思敬，丧思哀，其可已矣。

Tsze-chang said, "The scholar, trained for public duty, seeing threatening danger, is prepared to sacrifice his life. When the opportunity of gain is presented to him, he thinks of righteousness. In sacrificing, his thoughts are reverential. In mourning, his thoughts are about the grief which he should feel. Such a man commands our approbation indeed."