Zeng Zi

曾子曰，吾日三省吾身，为人谋，而不忠乎，与朋友交，而不信乎，传不习乎。

The philosopher Tsang said, "I daily examine myself on three points:—whether, in transacting business for others, I may have been not faithful;—whether, in intercourse with friends, I may have been not sincere;—whether I may have not mastered and practised the instructions of my teacher."

曾子曰，愼终追远，民德归厚矣。

The philosopher Tsang said, "Let there be a careful attention to perform the funeral rites to parents, and let them be followed when long gone with the ceremonies of sacrifice;—then the virtue of the people will resume its proper excellence."

子曰，参乎，吾道一以贯之。曾子曰，唯。子出，门人问曰，何谓也。曾子曰，夫子之道，忠恕而已矣。

1. The Master said, "Shan, my doctrine is that of an all-pervading unity." The disciple Tsang replied, "Yes." 2. The Master went out, and the other disciples asked, saying, "What do his words mean?" Tsang said, "The doctrine of our master is to be true to the principles of our nature and the benevolent exercise of them to others,—this and nothing more."

曾子有疾，召门弟子曰，启予足，启予手，诗云，战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰，而今而后，吾知免夫，小子。

The philosopher Tsang being ill, he called to him the disciples of his school, and said, "Uncover my feet, uncover my hands. It is said in the Book of Poetry, 'We should be apprehensive and cautious, as if on the brink of a deep gulf, as if treading on thin ice,' and so have I been. Now and hereafter, I know my escape from all injury to my person, O ye, my little children."

曾子有疾，孟敬子问之。曾子言曰，鸟之将死，其鸣也哀，人之将死，其言也善。君子所贵乎道者三，动容貌，斯远暴慢矣，正颜色，斯近信笑，出辞气，斯远鄙倍矣，笾豆之事，则有司存。

1. The philosopher Tsang being ill, Meng Chang went to ask how he was. 2. Tsang said to him, "When a bird is about to die, its notes are mournful; when a man is about to die, his words are good. 3. "There are three principles of conduct which the man of high rank should consider specially important:—that in his deportment and manner he keep from violence and heedlessness; that in regulating his countenance he keep near to sincerity; and that in his words and tones he keep far from lowness and impropriety. As to such matters as attending to the sacrificial vessels, there are the proper officers for them."

曾子曰，以能问于不能，以多问于寡，有若无，实若虚，犯而不校，昔者吾友，尝从事于斯矣。

The philosopher Tsang said, "Gifted with ability, and yet putting questions to those who were not so; possessed of much, and yet putting questions to those possessed of little; having, as though he had not; full, and yet counting himself as empty; offended against, and yet entering into no altercation; formerly I had a friend who pursued this style of conduct."

曾子曰，可以托六尺之孤，可以寄百里之命，临大节，而不可夺也，君子人与，君子人也。

The philosopher Tsang said, "Suppose that there is an individual who can be entrusted with the charge of a young orphan prince, and can be commissioned with authority over a state of a hundred li, and whom no emergency however great can drive from his principles:—is such a man a superior man? He is a superior man indeed."

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?

柴也愚。参也鲁。师也辟。由也喭。

1. Ch'ai is simple. 2. Shan is dull. 3. Shih is specious. 4. Yu is coarse.

曾子曰，君子以文会友，以友辅仁。

The philosopher Tsang said, "The superior man on grounds of culture meets with his friends, and by their friendship helps his virtue."

曾子曰，君子思不出其位。

The philosopher Tsang said, "The superior man, in his thoughts, does not go out of his place."

曾子曰，堂堂乎张也，难与并为仁矣。

The philosopher Tsang said, "How imposing is the manner of Chang! It is difficult along with him to practise virtue."

曾子曰，吾闻诸夫子，人未有自致者也，必也亲丧乎。

The philosopher Tsang said, "I heard this from our Master:—'Men may not have shown what is in them to the full extent, and yet they will be found to do so, on occasion of mourning for their parents.'"

曾子曰，吾闻诸夫子，孟庄子之孝也，其他可能也，其不改父之臣，与父之政，是难能也。

The philosopher Tsang said, "I have heard this from our Master:—'The filial piety of Mang Chwang, in other matters, was what other men are competent to, but, as seen in his not changing the ministers of his father, nor his father's mode of government, it is difficult to be attained to.'"

孟氏使阳肤为士师，问于曾子。曾子曰，上失其道，民散，久矣，如得其情，则哀矜而勿喜。

The chief of the Mang family having appointed Yang Fu to be chief criminal judge, the latter consulted the philosopher Tsang. Tsang said, "The rulers have failed in their duties, and the people consequently have been disorganised, for a long time. When you have found out the truth of any accusation, be grieved for and pity them, and do not feel joy at your own ability."