A modern English adaption of the Analects of Confucius.
Xian asked about shameful conduct.
Confucius replied, “When the Way prevails in your state, take office. To take office when the Way does not prevail—that is shameful conduct.”
Xian then asked, “If a person is free of arrogance, self-importance, resentment and desire, can their conduct be called humane?”
Confucius replied, “It’s certainly difficult, but I don’t know if I’d call it humane.”
Confucius said, “An official who is hung up on the comforts of home shouldn’t be called an official.”
Confucius said, “When the Way prevails in your state, be daring in your speech and your action. When the Way does not prevail in your state, be daring in your conduct but cautious in your speech.”
Confucius said, “A person with moral power always has something to say, but a person with something to say doesn’t necessarily have moral power. A humane person is certainly brave, but not all brave people have humaneness.”
Nangong Kuo asked Confucius, “How is it that Yi was a master of archery and Ao could drive his enemy’s ships onto dry land, but neither died a natural death? Yet Yu and Hou Ji were farmers and ended up ruling the world?”
Confucius didn’t answer at the time, but after Nangong Kuo left, he said, “Now there’s a noble person! There’s someone who values virtue!”
Confucius said, “There are times when a noble person fails to act with humaneness, but a small person never acts with humaneness.”
Confucius said, “If you love someone, how can you fail to encourage them to work hard? If you’re loyal to someone, how can you fail to admonish them to do the right thing?”
Confucius said, “When drafting official documents, Pi Chen wrote the first draft, Shi Shu reviewed and discussed it, Ziyu revised it, and Zichan would apply the finishing polish.”
Someone asked about Zichan.
Confucius replied, “He was generous.”
“And what about Zixi?”
Confucius replied, “That guy? Don’t even mention him.”
“And how about Guan Zhong?”
Confucius answered, “He was a man! He seized a territory of three hundred households in Pian from the Bo family. Although the head of the family was reduced to eating coarse rice for the rest of his life, he didn’t utter a single word of complaint against him.”
Confucius said, “To be poor and not resentful is hard. It’s easier to be rich and not arrogant.”
Confucius said, “Meng Gongchuo is qualified to be a steward for the Chao or Wei families, but he’s not qualified to be a minister for an actual state like Teng or Xue.”
Zilu asked about becoming a complete person.
Confucius said, “The wisdom of Zang Wuzhong, the desirelessness of Meng Gongchuo, the courage of Zhuangzi of Bian, and the abilities of Ran Qiu, all refined through ritual and music.
But if you want to be a complete person today, why do you need all of that? If you see a chance for profit and think of right conduct, if you’re ready to give your life when facing danger, and if you can endure long hardships without forgetting your principles—then you, also, may be considered a complete person.”
Confucius asked Gong Mingjia about Gongshu Wen Zi, “Is it true that your master never spoke, laughed, or accepted anything?”
Gongming Jia replied, “That’s an exaggeration. He only spoke when it was appropriate, so people never got sick of his words. He laughed, but only when he was joyful, so people never got sick of his laughter. He only took when it was the right thing to do, so people never get tired of his taking.”
Confucius said, “Really? Is that so?!”
Confucius said, “On his way into exile, Zang Wuzhong used his town, Fang, to bargain with Lu. They say he didn’t use coercion, but I don’t believe it.”
Confucius said, “Duke Wen of Jin was expedient and not upright. Duke Huan of Qi was upright, and not expedient.”
Zilu said, “When Huan Gong assassinated Gongzi Jiu, his tutor Zhao Hu chose to die with him, but Guan Zhong didn’t. He fell short of humaneness, didn’t he?”
Confucius replied, “When Huan Gong brought the nine rulers together in council, it wasn’t through military might, but through the influence of Guan Zhong. Such humaneness! Such humaneness!”
Zigong said, “Surely, Guan Zhong was not humane? After Duke Huan killed his Prince Jiu, not only did Guan Zhong not die along with him—he actually became Duke Huan’s prime minister!”
“With Guan Zhong as his Prime Minister, Duke Huan became leader of the nobles and brought order to the realm,” Confucius replied. “Down to this day, we still benefit from this. Without Guan Zhong, we’d be wearing our hair down and buttoning our clothes on the left side like barbarians.
“What should we expect? That he act out the petty virtues of a country rube and hang himself in some ditch, anonymously?”
Gongshu, The Refined One, had his family steward, Zhuan, promoted alongside him within the court.
When he heard about this, Confucius said, “Well, he certainly earned the title ‘The Refined One!’”
Confucius spoke about how Duke Ling of Wei didn’t follow the Way.
Ji Kangzi asked, “Well, if that’s the case, why didn’t he come to ruin?”
Confucius replied, “Zhongshu Yu attends to the guests, Preacher Tuo manages the temples, and Wangsun Jia leads the military. That being the case, how could he come to ruin?”
Confucius said, “If your words lack humility, you’ll find it tough to back them up.”
When Chen Chengzi assassinated Duke Chien, Confucius cleansed himself according to ritual and went to court. He reported to Duke Ai, saying, “Chen Chengzi has killed his ruler. I encourage you to punish him.”
Duke Ai replied, “Report this to the Three Families.”
Confucius said, “It’s only because I have an official rank that I felt duty-bound to make this report. And yet Duke Ai tells me to report it to the Three Families?”
Confucius then reported the matter to the Three Families, but they refused to do anything about it.
Confucius repeated, “It’s only because I have an official rank that I felt duty-bound to make this report.”
Zilu asked Confucius how to serve a ruler.
Confucius said, “Don’t be deceptive, but be ready to admonish him by taking a stand directly.”
Confucius said, “The noble person reaches up. The small person reaches down.”
Confucius said, “In the past, scholars would study to improve themselves. Nowadays, they study to impress other people.”
Qu Boyu sent a messenger to Confucius. Confucius sat with him and inquired, “What is Qu Boyu up to these days?”
“He’s trying to reduce his faults,” the messenger replied, “but he’s been unable to do so.”
After the messenger left, Confucius remarked, “Now there’s a messenger!”
Confucius said, “If you don’t have an official position, you shouldn’t make plans for that position.”
Zengzi commented, “The noble person doesn’t let their thoughts overstep their position.”
Confucius said, “A noble person is ashamed if their words get ahead of their actions.”
Confucius said, “The Way of a noble person has three points that I haven’t achieved: humaneness without anxiety, wisdom without doubts, and courage without fear.”
Zigong said, “You’ve just described yourself.”
Zigong was always judging people’s faults.
Confucius said, “Well, Zigong must have achieved perfection if he has time for that sort of thing. I’m not so lucky myself.”
Confucius said, “Don’t worry about people not recognizing you. Worry about your lack of ability.”
Confucius said, “If you don’t expect to be duped or not believed, but you’re the first to recognize these things—isn’t that the sign of a worthy?”
Weisheng Mu asked Confucius, “Why do you run around from place to place? Are you trying to be a smooth talker?”
Confucius replied, “I wouldn’t dare try that, it’s just that I hate stubbornness.”
Confucius said, “A fine horse is praised for its character, not for its strength.”
Someone asked, “What do you think of the saying, ‘Repay harm with virtue?’”
Confucius answered, “Then how would you repay virtue? Repay harm with justice. Repay virtue with virtue.”
Confucius sighed, “No one understands me.”
Zigong said, “What do you mean, no one understands you?”
“I don’t complain against Heaven or blame men,” Confucius replied, “I study what’s near at hand to understand what is higher. Only Heaven understands me.”
Gongbo Liao slandered Zilu to the Jisun family.
Zifu Jingbo told Confucius about it, saying, “The Jisuns have been led astray by Gongbo Liao, but I have the power to drag his corpse out into the marketplace.”
Confucius replied, “It’s up to fate if the Way prevails or is cast aside. What can Gongbo Liao do about fate?”
Confucius said, “A sage is someone who avoids office in this age. The next avoid a specific place. The next avoid certain attitudes. The next avoid certain words.”
Confucius said, “There have been seven that have done this.”
Zilu spent the night at the Stone Gate.
The gatekeeper asked, “Where are you from?”
Zilu replied, “From Confucius’ household.”
The gatekeeper said, “Oh, isn’t he the one who keeps trying the impossible?”
Confucius was playing the stone chimes in Wei.
A man carrying a basket walked by and commented, “He puts his heart into his playing.”
Then, after a while, he added, “So much urgency in that stubborn clanging! If no one appreciates him, that’s that!
“‘When it’s deep—wade through, clothes and all.
When it’s shallow—lift the hem of your robes and step across.’”
In response, Confucius said, “Of course! So decisive, and so easy, too!”
Zizhang said, “The Book of History says, ‘Gaozong stayed in the mourning shed for three years without speaking.’ Why did he do this?”
Confucius replied, “There’s no need to single out Gazong this way. All the ancients did this. After the ruler died, all of the officials took orders from the Prime Minister for three years.”
Confucius said, “If those in power love ritual, the people are easy to lead.”
Zilu asked Confucius how to be a noble person.
Confucius replied, “Cultivate yourself, to develop a respectful attentiveness.”
Zilu asked, “That’s it?”
Confucius answered, “Cultivate yourself so that you can bring comfort to others.”
Zilu again asked, “That’s all?”
Confucius replied, “Cultivate yourself so that you can bring comfort to the people. Even the sage kings Yao and Shun found this hard.”
Yuan Rang was waiting for the Confucius, sprawled out.
Seeing this, Confucius said, “A youth who lacks deference and respect; to be a grown man with nothing to pass on; to be an old man who shirks death. That’s what I call a pest!”
He struck Yuan Rang across the shins with his stick.
A boy from the village of Que was working as a messenger.
Someone asked Confucius, “Is he making any progress?”
Confucius replied, “Well, I can see that he likes to sit with his elders and walk alongside them—but he’s not interested in making progress. He’s looking for a shortcut.”
Confucius said, “A person who doesn’t think about the troubles of the future is sure to find troubles in the present.”