Zhong Gong

或曰，雍也仁，而不佞。子曰，焉用佞，御人以口给，屡憎于人，不知其仁，焉用佞。

1. Some one said, "Yung is truly virtuous, but he is not ready with his tongue." 2. The Master said, "What is the good of being ready with the tongue? They who encounter men with smartnesses of speech for the most part procure themselves hatred. I know not whether he be truly virtuous, but why should he show readiness of the tongue?"

子曰，雍也可使南面。仲弓问子桑伯子。子曰，可也，简。仲弓曰，居敬而行简，以临其民，不亦可乎，居简而行简，无乃大简乎。子曰，雍之言然。

1. The Master said, "There is Yung!—He might occupy the place of a prince." 2. Chung-kung asked about Tsze-sang Po-tsze. The Master said, "He may pass. He does not mind small matters." 3. Chung-kung said, "If a man cherish in himself a reverential feeling of the necessity of attention to business, though he may be easy in small matters in his government of the people, that may be allowed. But if he cherish in himself that easy feeling, and also carry it out in his practice, is not such an easy mode of procedure excessive?" 4. The Master said, "Yung's words are right."

子谓仲弓曰，犁牛之子骍且角，虽欲勿用，山川其舍诸。

The Master, speaking of Chung-kung, said, "If the calf of a brindled cow be red and horned, although men may not wish to use it, would the spirits of the mountains and rivers put it aside?"

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.

仲弓问仁。子曰，出门如见大宾，使民如承大祭，己所不欲，勿施于人，在邦无怨，在家无怨。仲弓曰，雍虽不敏，请事斯语矣。

Chung-kung asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "It is, when you go abroad, to behave to every one as if you were receiving a great guest; to employ the people as if you were assisting at a great sacrifice; not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself; to have no murmuring against you in the country, and none in the family." Chung-kung said, "Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigour, I will make it my business to practise this lesson."

仲弓为季氏宰，问政。子曰，先有司，赦小过，擧贤才。曰，焉知贤才而擧之。曰，擧尔所知，尔所不知，人其舍诸。

1. Chung-kung, being chief minister to the Head of the Chi family, asked about government. The Master said, "Employ first the services of your various officers, pardon small faults, and raise to office men of virtue and talents." 2. Chung-kung said, "How shall I know the men of virtue and talent, so that I may raise them to office?" He was answered, "Raise to office those whom you know. As to those whom you do not know, will others neglect them?"