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。
白话导读
卫灵公向孔子询问排兵布阵的方法。孔子回答说：祭祀礼仪方面的事，我还听说过一些；用兵打仗的事，我从来没有学过。第二天孔子便离开了卫国。后来在陈国断了粮食，随行的弟子都饿病了，起不来。子路满脸怨气地来见孔子说：君子也会有走投无路的时候吗？孔子说：君子在困厄时能坚守节操，小人一旦困厄就会胡作非为。
James Legge 英译
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."
译注：James Legge 公版英译，1893 年原版。
注释
- 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。