Learning

子曰，弟子，入则孝，出则弟，谨而信，凡爱众，而亲仁，行有余力，则以学文。

The Master said, "A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all, and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and opportunity, after the performance of these things, he should employ them in polite studies."

子夏曰，贤贤易色，事父母，能竭其力，事君，能致其身，与朋友交，言而有信，虽曰未学，吾必谓之学矣。

Tsze-hsia said, "If a man withdraws his mind from the love of beauty, and applies it as sincerely to the love of the virtuous; if, in serving his parents, he can exert his utmost strength; if, in serving his prince, he can devote his life; if, in his intercourse with his friends, his words are sincere:—although men say that he has not learned, I will certainly say that he has."

子曰，君子不重，则不威，学则不固。主忠信。无友不如己者。过则勿惮改。

1. The Master said, "If the scholar be not grave, he will not call forth any veneration, and his learning will not be solid. 2. "Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. 3. "Have no friends not equal to yourself. 4. "When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."

子张学干禄。子曰，多闻阙疑，愼言其余，则寡尤，多见阙殆，愼行其余，则寡悔，言寡尤，行寡悔，禄在其中矣。

1. Tsze-chang was learning with a view to official emolument. 2. The Master said, "Hear much and put aside the points of which you stand in doubt, while you speak cautiously at the same time of the others:—then you will afford few occasions for blame. See much and put aside the things which seem perilous, while you are cautious at the same time in carrying the others into practice:—then you will have few occasions for repentance. When one gives few occasions for blame in his words, and few occasions for repentance in his conduct, he is in the way to get emolument."

子贡问曰，孔文子，何以谓之文也。子曰，敏而好学，不耻下问，是以谓之文也。

Tsze-kung asked, saying, "On what ground did Kung-wan get that title of Wan?" The Master said, "He was of an active nature and yet fond of learning, and he was not ashamed to ask and learn of his inferiors!—On these grounds he has been styled Wan."

子曰，十室之邑，必有忠信，如丘者焉，不如丘之好学也。

The Master said, "In a hamlet of ten families, there may be found one honourable and sincere as I am, but not so fond of learning."

子曰，君子博学于文，约之以礼，亦可以弗畔矣夫。

The Master said, "The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not overstep what is right."

子曰，默而识之，学而不厌，诲人不倦，何有于我哉。

The Master said, "The silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied:—which one of these things belongs to me?"

子曰，德之不修，学之不讲，闻义不能徒，不善不能改，是吾忧也。

The Master said, "The leaving virtue without proper cultivation; the not thoroughly discussing what is learned; not being able to move towards righteousness of which a knowledge is gained; and not being able to change what is not good:—these are the things which occasion me solicitude."

子曰，加我数年，五十以学易，可以无大过矣。

The Master said, "If some years were added to my life, I would give fifty to the study of the Yi, and then I might come to be without great faults."

子曰，若圣与仁，则吾岂敢，抑为之不厌，诲人不倦，则可谓云尔已矣。公西华曰，正唯弟子不能学也。

The Master said, "The sage and the man of perfect virtue;—how dare I rank myself with them? It may simply be said of me, that I strive to become such without satiety, and teach others without weariness." Kung-hsi Hwa said, "This is just what we, the disciples, cannot imitate you in."

子曰，三年学，不至于谷，不易得也。

The Master said, "It is not easy to find a man who has learned for three years without coming to be good."

子曰，笃信好学，守死善道。危邦不入，乱邦不居，天下有道则见，无道则隐。邦有道，贫且贱焉，耻也，邦无道，富且贵焉，耻也。

1. The Master said, "With sincere faith he unites the love of learning; holding firm to death, he is perfecting the excellence of his course. 2. "Such an one will not enter a tottering State, nor dwell in a disorganized one. When right principles of government prevail in the kingdom, he will show himself; when they are prostrated, he will keep concealed. 3. "When a country is well-governed, poverty and a mean condition are things to be ashamed of. When a country is ill-governed, riches and honour are things to be ashamed of."

子曰，学如不及，犹恐失之。

The Master said, "Learn as if you could not reach your object, and were always fearing also lest you should lose it."

达巷党人曰，大哉孔子，博学而无所成名。子闻之，谓门弟子曰，吾何执，执御乎，执射乎，吾执御矣。

1. A man of the village of Ta-hsiang said, "Great indeed is the philosopher K'ung! His learning is extensive, and yet he does not render his name famous by any particular thing." 2. The Master heard the observation, and said to his disciples, "What shall I practise? Shall I practise charioteering, or shall I practise archery? I will practise charioteering."

子曰，可与共学，未可与适道，可与适道，未可与立，可与立，未可与权。

The Master said, "There are some with whom we may study in common, but we shall find them unable to go along with us to principles. Perhaps we may go on with them to principles, but we shall find them unable to get established in those along with us. Or if we may get so established along with them, we shall find them unable to weigh occurring events along with us."

子曰，从我于陈蔡者，皆不及门也。德行，颜渊，闵子骞，冉伯牛，仲弓。言语，宰我，子贡。政事，冉有，季路。文学，子游，子夏。

1. The Master said, "Of those who were with me in Ch'an and Ts'ai, there are none to be found to enter my door." 2. Distinguished for their virtuous principles and practice, there were Yen Yuan, Min Tsze-ch'ien, Zan Po-niu, and Chung-kung; for their ability in speech, Tsai Wo and Tsze-kung; for their administrative talents, Zan Yu and Chi Lu; for their literary acquirements, Tsze-yu and Tsze-hsia.

季康子问弟子孰为好学。孔子对曰，有颜回者好学，不幸短命死矣，今也则亡。

Chi K'ang asked which of the disciples loved to learn. Confucius replied to him, "There was Yen Hui; he loved to learn. Unfortunately his appointed time was short, and he died. Now there is no one who loves to learn, as he did."

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."

子曰，博学于文，约之以礼，亦可以弗畔矣夫。

The Master said, "By extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, one may thus likewise not err from what is right."

樊迟请学稼。子曰，吾不如老农。请学为圃。曰，吾不如老圃。樊迟出。子曰，小人哉，樊须也。上好礼，则民莫敢不敬，上好义，则民莫敢不服，上好信，则民莫敢不用情，夫如是，则四方之民，襁负其子而至矣，焉用稼。

1. Fan Ch'ih requested to be taught husbandry. The Master said, "I am not so good for that as an old husbandman." He requested also to be taught gardening, and was answered, "I am not so good for that as an old gardener." 2. Fan Ch'ih having gone out, the Master said, "A small man, indeed, is Fan Hsu! 3. If a superior love propriety, the people will not dare not to be reverent. If he love righteousness, the people will not dare not to submit to his example. If he love good faith, the people will not dare not to be sincere. Now, when these things obtain, the people from all quarters will come to him, bearing their children on their backs;—what need has he of a knowledge of husbandry?"

子曰，莫我知也夫。子贡曰，何为其莫知子也。子曰，不怨天，不尤人，下学而上达，知我者，其天乎。

1. The Master said, "Alas! there is no one that knows me." 2. Tsze-kung said, "What do you mean by thus saying—that no one knows you?" The Master replied, "I do not murmur against

衞灵公问陈于孔子。孔子对曰，俎豆之事，则尝闻之矣，军旅之事，未之学也。明日遂行。在陈绝粮，从者病，莫能兴。子路愠见曰，君子亦有穷乎。子曰，君子固穷，小人穷斯滥矣。

1. The Duke Ling of Wei asked Confucius about tactics. Confucius replied, "I have heard all about sacrificial vessels, but I have not learned military matters." On this, he took his departure the next day. 2. When he was in Chan, their provisions were exhausted, and his followers became so ill that they were unable to rise. 3. Tsze-lu, with evident dissatisfaction, said, "Has the superior man likewise to endure in this way?" The Master said, "The superior man may indeed have to endure want, but the mean man, when he is in want, gives way to unbridled license."

子曰，赐也，女以予为多学而识之者与。对曰，然，非与。曰，非也，予一以贯之。

1. The Master said, "Ts'ze, you think, I suppose, that I am one who learns many things and keeps them in memory?" 2. Tsze-kung replied, "Yes,—but perhaps it is not so?" 3. "No," was the answer; "I seek a unity all-pervading."

子曰，君子谋道不谋食，耕也，馁在其中矣，学也，禄在其中矣，君子忧道，不忧贫。

The Master said, "The object of the superior man is truth. Food is not his object. There is plowing;—even in that there is sometimes want. So with learning;—emolument may be found in it. The superior man is anxious lest he should not get truth; he is not anxious lest poverty should come upon him."

陈亢问于伯鱼曰，子亦有异闻乎。对曰，未也，尝独立，鲤趋而过庭，曰，学诗乎。对曰，未也。不学诗，无以言。

1. Ch'an K'ang asked Po-yu, saying, "Have you heard any lessons from your father different from what we have all heard?" 2. Po-yu replied, "No. He was standing alone once, when I passed below the hall with hasty steps, and said to me, 'Have you learned the Odes?' On my replying 'Not yet,' he added, 'If you do not learn the Odes, you will not be fit to converse with.' I retired and studied the Odes.

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。

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."

子曰，小子，何莫学夫诗。诗可以兴。可以观。可以群。可以怨。迩之事父，远之事君。多识于鸟兽草木之名。

1. The Master said, "My children, why do you not study the Book of Poetry? 2. "The Odes serve to stimulate the mind. 3. "They may be used for purposes of self-contemplation. 4. "They teach the art of sociability. 5. "They show how to regulate feelings of resentment. 6. "From them you learn the more immediate duty of serving one's father, and the remoter one of serving one's prince. 7. "From them we become largely acquainted with the names of birds, beasts, and plants."

子夏曰，日知其所亡，月无忘其所能，可谓好学也已矣。

Tsze-hsia said, "He, who from day to day recognises what he has not yet, and from month to month does not forget what he has attained to, may be said indeed to love to learn."

子夏曰，博学而笃志，切问而近思，仁在其中矣。

Tsze-hsia said, "There are learning extensively, and having a firm and sincere aim; inquiring with earnestness, and reflecting with self-application:—virtue is in such a course."

子夏曰，百工居肆，以成其事，君子学以致其道。

Tsze-hsia said, "Mechanics have their shops to dwell in, in order to accomplish their works. The superior man learns, in order to reach to the utmost of his principles."

卫公孙朝问于子贡曰，仲尼焉学。子贡曰，文，武之道，未坠于地，在人。贤者识其大者，不贤者识其小者，莫不有文，武之道焉。夫子焉不学。而亦何常师之有。

1. Kung-sun Ch'ao of Wei asked Tsze-kung, saying, "From whom did Chung-ni get his learning?" 2. Tsze-kung replied, "The doctrines of Wan and Wu have not yet fallen to the ground. They are to be found among men. Men of talents and virtue remember the greater principles of them, and others, not possessing such talents and virtue, remember the smaller. Thus, all possess the doctrines of Wan and Wu. Where could our Master go that he should not have an opportunity of learning them? And yet what necessity was there for his having a regular master?"