子zǐ问wèn公gōng叔shū文wén子zǐ于yú公gōng明míng贾jiǎ曰yuē，信xìn乎hū，夫fū子zǐ不bù言yán，不bú笑xiào，不bù取qǔ乎hū。公gōng明míng贾jiǎ对duì曰yuē，以yǐ吿gào者zhě过guò也yě。夫fū子zǐ时shí然rán后hòu言yán，人rén不bú厌yàn其qí言yán，乐lè然rán后hòu笑xiào，人rén不bú厌yàn其qí笑xiào，义yì然rán后hòu取qǔ，人rén不bú厌yàn其qí取qǔ。子zǐ曰yuē，其qí然rán，岂qǐ其qí然rán乎hū。

James Legge 英译

1. The Master asked Kung-ming Chia about Kung-shu Wan, saying, "Is it true that your master speaks not, laughs not, and takes not?" 2. Kung-ming Chia replied, "This has arisen from the reporters going beyond the truth.—My master speaks when it is the time to speak, and so men do not get tired of his speaking. He laughs when there is occasion to be joyful, and so men do not get tired of his laughing. He takes when it is consistent with righteousness to do so, and so men do not get tired of his taking." The Master said, "So! But is it so with him?"

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。