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论语13 子路篇第十三

发布时间:2015-06-18 浏览次数:55

 

子路篇第十三

本篇共有30章,其中著名的文句有:“名不正则言不顺,言不顺则事不成”;“欲速则不达”;“父为子隐,子为父隐”;“居处恭、执事敬、与人忠”;“言必信,行必果”;君子和而不同,小人同而不和”;君子泰而不骄,小人骄而不泰”。本篇包含的内容比较广泛,其中有关于如何治理国家的政治主张,孔子的教育思想,个人的道德修养与品格完善,以及“和而不同”的思想。

 

131 子路问政。子曰:“先之劳之(1)。”请益(2)。曰:“无倦(3)。”

 

【注释】

(1)先之劳之:先,引导,先导,即教化。之,指老百姓。做在老百姓之前,使老百姓勤劳。

(2)益:请求增加一些。

(3)无倦:不厌倦,不松懈。

 

【译文】

子路问怎样管理政事。孔子说:“做在老百姓之前,使老百姓勤劳。”子路请求多讲一点。孔子说:“不要懈怠。”

 

132 仲弓为季氏宰,问政。子曰:“先有司(1),赦小过,举贤才。”曰:“焉知贤才而举之?”曰:“举尔所知。尔所不知,人其舍诸(2)?”

 

【注释】

(1)有司:古代负责具体事务的官吏。

(2)诸:“之乎”二字的合音。

 

【译文】

仲弓做了季氏的家臣,问怎样管理政事。孔子说:“先责成手下负责具体事务的官吏,让他们各负其责,赦免他们的小过错,选拔贤才来任职。”仲弓又问:“怎样知道是贤才而把他们选拔出来呢?”孔子说:“选拔你所知道的,至于你不知道的贤才,别人难道还会埋没他们吗?”

 

133 子路曰:“卫君(1)待子为政,子将奚(2)先?”子曰:“必也正名(3)乎!”子路曰:“有是哉,子之迂(4)也!奚其正?”子曰:“野哉,由也!君子于其所不知,盖阙(5)如也。名不正则言不顺,言不顺则事不成,事不成则礼乐不兴,礼乐不兴则刑罚不中(6),刑罚不中,则民无所措手足。故君子名之必可言也,言之必可行也。君子于其言,无所苟(7)而已矣。”

 

【注释】

(1)卫君:卫出公,名辄,卫灵公之孙。其父蒯聩被卫灵公驱逐出国,卫灵公死后,蒯辄继位。蒯聩要回国争夺君位,遭到蒯辄拒绝。这里,孔子对此事提出了自己的看法。

(2)奚:音ī,什么。

(3)正名:即正名分。

(4)迂:迂腐。

(5)阙:同“缺”,存疑的意思。

(6)中:音zhòng,得当。

(7)苟:苟且,马马虎虎。

 

【译文】

子路(对孔子)说:“卫国国君要您去治理国家,您打算先从哪些事情做起呢?”孔子说:“首先必须正名分。”子路说:“有这样做的吗?您想得太不合时宜了。这名怎么正呢?”孔子说:“仲由,真粗野啊。君子对于他所不知道的事情,总是采取存疑的态度。名分不正,说起话来就不顺当合理,说话不顺当合理,事情就办不成。事情办不成,礼乐也就不能兴盛。礼乐不能兴盛,刑罚的执行就不会得当。刑罚不得当,百姓就不知怎么办好。所以,君子一定要定下一个名分,必须能够说得明白,说出来一定能够行得通。君子对于自己的言行,是从不马马虎虎对待的。”

 

【评析】

以上三章所讲的中心问题都是如何从政。前两章讲当政者应当以身作则。要求百姓做的事情,当政者首先要告诉百姓,使百姓能够搞清楚国家的政策,即孔子所讲的引导百姓。但在这三章中讲得最重要的问题是“正名”。“正名”是孔子“礼”的思想的组成部分。正名的具体内容就是“君君、臣臣、父父、子子”,只有“名正”才可以做到“言顺”,接下来的事情就迎刃而解了。

 

134 樊迟请学稼。子曰:“吾不如老农。”请学为圃(1)。曰:“吾不如老圃。”樊迟出。子曰:“小人哉,樊须也!上好礼,则民莫敢不敬,上好义,则民莫敢不服;上好信,则民莫敢不用情(2)。夫如是,则四方之民襁(3)负其子而至矣,焉用稼?”

 

【注释】

(1)圃:音pǔ,菜地,引申为种菜。

(2)用情:情,情实。以真心实情来对待。

(3)襁:音qiǎng,背婴孩的背篓。

 

【译文】

樊迟向孔子请教如何种庄稼。孔子说:“我不如老农。”樊迟又请教如何种菜。孔子说:“我不如老菜农。”樊迟退出以后,孔子说:“樊迟真是小人。在上位者只要重视礼,老百姓就不敢不敬畏;在上位者只要重视义,老百姓就不敢不服从;在上位的人只要重视信,老百姓就不敢不用真心实情来对待你。要是做到这样,四面八方的老百姓就会背着自己的小孩来投奔,哪里用得着自己去种庄稼呢?”

 

【评析】

孔子毫不客气地指责想学种庄稼和种菜的樊迟是小人,可以清楚地看出他的教育思想。他认为,在上位的人哪里需要学习种庄稼、种菜之类的知识,只要重视礼、义、信也就足够了。他培养学生,不是为了以后去种庄稼种菜,而是为了从政为官。在孔子时代,接受教育的人毕竟是少数,劳动者只要有充沛的体力就可以从事农业生产,而教育的目的,就是为了培养实行统治的知识分子。所以,孔子的教育目的并不是为了培养劳动者。这在当时的历史条件下有其相对的合理性。

 

135 子曰:“诵三百,授之以政,不达(1);使于四方,不能专对(2)。虽多,亦奚以(3)为?”

 

【注释】

(1)达:通达。这里是会运用的意思。

(2)专对:独立对答。

(3)以:用。

 

【译文】

孔子说:“把《诗》三百篇背得很熟,让他处理政务,却不会办事;让他当外交使节,不能独立地办交涉;背得很多,又有什么用呢?”

 

【评析】

诗,也是孔子教授学生的主要内容之一。他教学生诵诗,不单纯是为了诵诗,而为了把诗的思想运用到指导政治活动之中。儒家不主张死背硬记,当书呆子,而是要学以致用,应用到社会实践中去。

 

136 子曰:“其身正,不令而行;其身不正,虽令不从。”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“自身正了,即使不发布命令,老百姓也会去干,自身不正,即使发布命令,老百姓也不会服从。”

 

137 子曰:“鲁卫之政,兄弟也。”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“鲁和卫两国的政事,就像兄弟(的政事)一样。”

 

【评析】

鲁国是周公旦的封地,卫国是康叔的封地,周公旦和康叔是兄弟,当时两国的政治情况有些相似。所以孔子说,鲁国的国事和卫国的国事,就像兄弟一样。

138 子谓卫公子荆(1):“善居室(2)。始有,曰:‘苟(3)(4)矣’。少有,曰:‘苟完矣。’富有,曰:‘苟美矣。’”

 

【注释】

(1)卫公子荆:卫国大夫,字南楚,卫献公的儿子。

(2)善居室:善于管理经济,居家过日子。

(3)苟:差不多。

(4)合:足够。

 

【译文】

孔子谈到卫国的公子荆时说:“他善于管理经济,居家理财。刚开始有一点,他说:‘差不多也就够了。’稍为多一点时,他说:‘差不多就算完备了。’更多一点时,他说:‘差不多算是完美了’。”

 

139 子适卫,冉有仆(1)。子曰:“庶矣哉!”冉有曰:“既庶(2)矣,又何加焉?”曰:“富之。”曰:“既富矣,又何加焉?”曰:“教之。”

 

【注释】

(1)仆:驾车。

(2)庶:众多,这里指人口众多。

 

【译文】

孔子到卫国去,冉有为他驾车。孔子说:“人口真多呀!”冉有说:“人口已经够多了,还要再做什么呢?”孔子说:“使他们富起来。”冉有说:“富了以后又还要做些什么?”孔子说:“对他们进行教化。”

 

【评析】

在本章里,孔子提出“富民”和“教民”的思想,而且是“先富后教”。这是正确的。但这并不是说,对老百姓只富不教。在孔子的观念中,教化百姓始终是十分重要的问题。所以,在这里,一定要注意深入理解孔子的原意。

 

1310 子曰:“苟有用我者,期月而已可也,三年有成。”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“如果有人用我治理国家,一年便可以搞出个样子,三年就一定会有成效。”

 

1311 子曰:“善人为邦百年,亦可以胜残去杀矣。诚哉是言也!”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“善人治理国家,经过一百年,也就可以消除残暴,废除刑罚杀戮了。这话真对呀!”

 

【评析】

孔子说,善人需要一百年的时间,可以“胜残去杀”,达到他所理想的境界。其实,从这句话的本意去理解,善人施行“德治”,但并不排除刑罚的必要手段。这在现实的政治活动中,并不是可有可无的。

 

1312 子曰:“如有王者,必世而后仁。”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“如果有王者兴起,也一定要三十年才能实现仁政。”

 

【评析】

上一章孔子讲,善人施行德治需要一百年的时间才可以到达理想境界,本章又说,王者治理国家也需要三十年的时间才能实现仁政。同样,王者在实现仁政之前的三十年间,也不能排除刑罚杀戮手段在社会政治生活中所起的重要作用。

 

1313 子曰:“苟正其身矣,于从政乎何有?不能正其身,如正人何?”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“如果端正了自身的行为,管理政事还有什么困难呢?如果不能端正自身的行为,怎能使别人端正呢?”

 

【评析】

俗话说:“正人先正己。”本章里孔子所讲的就是这个道理。孔子把“正身”看作是从政为官的重要方面,是有深刻的思想价值的。

 

1314 冉子退朝。子曰:“何晏也?”对曰:“有政。”子曰:“其事也?如有政,虽不吾以,吾其与闻之。”

 

【译文】

冉求退朝回来,孔子说:“为什么回来得这么晚呀?”冉求说:“有政事。”孔子说:“只是一般的事务吧?如果有政事,虽然君不用我了,我也会知道的。”

 

1315 定公问:“一言而可以兴邦,有诸?”孔子对曰:“言不可以若是其几也。人之言曰:‘为君难,为臣不易。’如知为君之难也,不几乎一言而兴邦乎?”曰:“一言而丧邦,有诸?”孔子对曰:“言不可以若是其几也。人之言曰:‘予无乐乎为君,唯其言而莫予违也。’如其善而莫之违也,不亦善乎?如不善而莫之违也,不几乎一言而丧邦乎?”

 

【译文】

鲁定公问:“一句话就可以使国家兴盛,有这样的话吗?”孔子答道:“不可能有这样的话,但有近乎于这样的话。有人说:‘做君难,做臣不易。’如果知道了做君的难,这不近乎于一句话可以使国家兴盛吗?”鲁定公又问:“一句话可以亡国,有这样的话吗?”孔子回答说:“不可能有这样的话,但有近乎这样的话。有人说过:‘我做君主并没有什么可高兴的,我所高兴的只在于我所说的话没有人敢于违抗。’如果说得对而没有人违抗,不也好吗?如果说得不对而没有人违抗,那不就近乎于一句话可以亡国吗?”

 

【评析】

对于鲁定公的提问,孔子实际上作了肯定性的回答。他劝告定公,应当行仁政、礼治,不应以国君所说的话无人敢于违抗而感到高兴,这是值得注意的。作为在上位的统治者,一个念头、一句话如果不当,就有可能导致亡国丧天下的结局。

 

1316 叶公问政。子曰:“近者悦,远者来。”

 

【译文】

叶公问孔子怎样管理政事。孔子说:“使近处的人高兴,使远处的人来归附。”

 

1317 子夏为莒父(1)宰,问政。子曰:“无欲速,无见小利。欲速则不达,见小利则大事不成。”

 

【注释】

(1)莒父:莒,音jǔ。鲁国的一个城邑,在今山东省莒县境内。

 

【译文】

子夏做莒父的总管,问孔子怎样办理政事。孔子说:“不要求快,不要贪求小利。求快反而达不到目的,贪求小利就做不成大事。”

 

【评析】

“欲速则不达”,贯穿着辩证法思想,即对立着的事物可以互相转化。孔子要求子夏从政不要急功近利,否则就无法达到目的;不要贪求小利,否则就做不成大事。

 

1318 叶公语孔子曰:“吾党(1)有直躬者(2),其父攘羊(3),而子证(4)之。”孔子曰:“吾党之直者异于是:父为子隐,子为父隐,直在其中矣。

 

【注释】

(1)党:乡党,古代以五百户为一党。

(2)直躬者:正直的人。

(3)攘羊:偷羊。

(4)证:告发。

 

【译文】

叶公告诉孔子说:“我的家乡有个正直的人,他的父亲偷了人家的羊,他告发了父亲。”孔子说:“我家乡的正直的人和你讲的正直人不一样:父亲为儿子隐瞒,儿子为父亲隐瞒。正直就在其中了。”

 

【评析】

孔子认为“父为子隐,子为父隐”就是具有了“直”的品格。看来,他把正直的道德纳入“孝”与“慈”的范畴之中了,一切都要服从“礼”的规定。这在今天当然应予扬弃。

 

1319 樊迟问仁。子曰:“居处恭,执事敬,与人忠。虽之夷狄,不可弃也。”

 

【译文】

樊迟问怎样才是仁。孔子说:“平常在家规规矩矩,办事严肃认真,待人忠心诚意。即使到了夷狄之地,也不可背弃。”

 

【评析】

这里孔子对“仁”的解释,是以“恭”、“敬”、“忠”三个德目为基本内涵。在家恭敬有礼,就是要符合孝悌的道德要求;办事严肃谨慎,就是要符合“礼”的要求;待人忠厚诚实显示出仁德的本色。

 

1320 子贡问曰:“何如斯可谓之士(1)矣?”子曰:“行已有耻,使于四方,不辱君命,可谓士矣。”曰:“敢问其次。”曰:“宗族称孝焉,乡党称弟焉。”曰“敢问其次。”曰:“言必信,行必果(2),硁硁(3)然小人哉!抑亦可以为次矣。”曰:“今之从政者何如?”子曰:“噫!斗筲之人(4),何足算也?”

 

【注释】

(1)士:士在周代贵族中位于最低层。此后,士成为古代社会知识分子的通称。

(2)果:果断、坚决。

(3)硁硁:音kēng,象声词,敲击石头的声音。这里引申为像石块那样坚硬。

(4)斗筲之人:筲,音shāo,竹器,容一斗二升。比喻器量狭小的人。

 

【译文】

子贡问道:“怎样才可以叫做士?”孔子说:“自己在做事时有知耻之心,出使外国各方,能够完君主交付的使命,可以叫做士。”子贡说:“请问次一等的呢?”孔子说:“宗族中的人称赞他孝顺父母,乡党们称他尊敬兄长。”子贡又问:“请问再次一等的呢?”孔子说:“说到一定做到,做事一定坚持到底,不问是非地固执己见,那是小人啊。但也可以说是再次一等的士了。”子贡说:“现在的执政者,您看怎么样?”孔子说:“唉!这些器量狭小的人,哪里能数得上呢?”

 

【评析】

孔子观念中的“士”,首先是有知耻之心、不辱君命的人,能够担负一定的国家使命。其次是孝敬父母、顺从兄长的人。再次才是“言必信,行必果”的人。至于现在的当政者,他认为是器量狭小的人,根本算不得士。他所培养的就是具有前两种品德的“士”

 

1321 子曰:“不得中行(1)而与之,必也狂狷(2)乎!狂者进取,狷者有所不为也。”

 

【注释】

(1)中行:行为合乎中庸。

(2)狷:音juàn,拘谨,有所不为。

 

【译文】

孔子说:“我找不到奉行中庸之道的人和他交往,只能与狂者、狷者相交往了。狂者敢作敢为,狷者对有些事是不肯干的。”

 

【评析】

“狂”与“狷”是两种对立的品质。一是流于冒进,进取,敢作敢为;一是流于退缩,不敢作为。孔子认为,中行就是不偏不狂,也不偏于狷。人的气质、作风、德行都不偏于任何一个方面,对立的双方应互相牵制,互相补充,这样,才符合于中庸的思想。

 

1322 子曰:“南人有言曰:‘人而无恒,不可以作巫医(1)。’善夫!”“不恒其德,或承之羞。”(2)子曰:不占(3)而已矣。”

 

【注释】

(1)巫医:用卜筮为人治病的人。

(2)不恒其德,或承之羞:此二句引自《易经•恒卦•爻辞》。

(3)占:占卜。

【译文】

孔子说:“南方人有句话说:‘人如果做事没有恒心,就不能当巫医。’这句话说得真好啊!”“人不能长久地保存自己的德行,免不了要遭受耻辱。”孔子说:“(这句话是说,没有恒心的人)用不着去占卦了。”

 

【评析】

本章中孔子讲了两层意思:一是人必须有恒心,这样才能成就事业。二是人必须恒久保持德行,否则就可能遭受耻辱。这是他对自己的要求,也是对学生们的告诫。

 

1323 子曰:“君子和(1)而不同(2),小人同而不和。”

 

【注释】

(1)和:不同的东西和谐地配合叫做和,各方面之间彼此不同。

(2)同:相同的东西相加或与人相混同,叫做同。各方面之间完全相同。

 

【译文】

孔子说:“君子讲求和谐而不同流合污,小人只求完全一致,而不讲求协调。”

 

【评析】

“和而不同”是孔子思想体系中的重要组成部分。“君子和而不同,小人同而不和。”君子可以与他周围的人保持和谐融洽的关系,但他对待任何事情都必须经过自己大脑的独立思考,从来不愿人云亦云,盲目附和;但小人则没有自己独立的见解,只求与别人完全一致,而不讲求原则,但他却与别人不能保持融洽友好的关系。这是在处事为人方面。其实,在所有的问题上,往往都能体现出“和而不同”和“同而不和”的区别。“和而不同“显示出孔子思想的深刻哲理和高度智慧。

 

1324 子贡问曰:“乡人皆好之,何如?”子曰:“未可也。”“乡人皆恶之,何如?”子曰:“未可也。不如乡人之善者好之,其不善者恶之。”

 

【译文】

子贡问孔子说:“全乡人都喜欢、赞扬他,这个人怎么样?”孔子说:“这还不能肯定。”子贡又问孔子说:“全乡人都厌恶、憎恨他,这个人怎么样?”孔子说:“这也是不能肯定的。最好的人是全乡的好人都喜欢他,全乡的坏人都厌恶他。”

 

【评析】

对于一个人的正确评价,其实并不容易。但在这里孔子把握住了一个原则,即不以众人的好恶为依据,而应以善恶为标准。听取众人的意见是应当的,也是判断一个人优劣的依据之一,但决不是唯一的依据。他的这个思想对于我们今天识别好人与坏人有重要意义。

 

1325 子曰:“君子易事(1)而难说(2)也。说之不以道,不说也;及其使人也,器之(3)。小人难事而易说也。说之虽不以道,说也;及其使人也,求备焉。”

 

【注释】

(1)易事:易于与人相处共事。

(2)难说:难于取得他的欢喜。

(3)器之:量才使用他。

 

【译文】

孔子说:“为君子办事很容易,但很难取得他的欢喜。不按正道去讨他的喜欢,他是不会喜欢的。但是,当他使用人的时候,总是量才而用人;为小人办事很难,但要取得他的欢喜则是很容易的。不按正道去讨他的喜欢,也会得到他的喜欢。但等到他使用人的时候,却是求全责备。”

 

【评析】

这一章里,孔子又提出了君子与小人之间的另一个区别。这一点也是十分重要的。作为君子,他并不对人百般挑剔,而且也不轻易表明自己的喜好,但在选用人才的时候,往往能够量才而用,不会求全责备。但小人就不同了。在现实社会中,君子并不多见,而此类小人则屡见不鲜。

 

1326 子曰:“君子泰而不骄,小人骄而不泰。”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“君子安静坦然而不傲慢无礼,小人傲慢无礼而不安静坦然。”

 

1327 子曰:“刚、毅、木、讷近仁。”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“刚强、果敢、朴实、谨慎,这四种品德接近于仁。”

 

【评析】

孔子把“仁”和人的朴素气质归为一类。这里首先必须是刚毅果断,其次必须言行谨慎,这样就接近于仁的最高境界了。这一主张与孔子的一贯思想是完全一致的。

 

1328 子路问曰:“何如斯可谓之士矣?”子曰:“切切偲偲(1),怡怡(2)如也,可谓士矣。朋友切切偲偲,兄弟怡怡。”

 

【注释】

(1)偲偲:音sī,勉励、督促、诚恳的样子。

(2)怡怡:音yí,和气、亲切、顺从的样子。

 

【译文】

子路问孔子道:“怎样才可以称为士呢?”孔子说:“互助督促勉励,相处和和气气,可以算是士了。朋友之间互相督促勉励,兄弟之间相处和和气气。”

 

1329 子曰:“善人教民七年,亦可以即戎矣。”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“善人教练百姓用七年的时候,也就可以叫他们去当兵打仗了。”

 

1330 子曰:“以不教民战,是谓弃之。”

 

【译文】

孔子说:“如果不先对老百姓进行作战训练,这就叫抛弃他们。”

 

【评析】

本章和上一章都讲了教练百姓作战的问题,从中可以看出,孔子并不完全反对军事手段解决某些问题。他主张训练百姓,否则便是抛弃了他们。

 

 

BOOK XIII   ZILU

 

13.1 Zilu asked about government. The Master said, “Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.” He requested further instruction, and was answered, “Be not weary in these things.”

 

13.2 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.” 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?”

 

13.3 Zilu said, “The ruler of Wei has been waiting for you, in order with you to administer the government. What will you consider the first thing to be done?” The Master replied, “What is necessary is to rectify names.” “So! indeed!” said Zilu. “You are wide of the mark! Why must there be such rectification?” The Master said, “How uncultivated you are, Yu! A superior man, in regard to what he does not know, shows a cautious reserve. If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success. When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music do not flourish. When proprieties and music do not flourish, punishments will not be properly awarded. When punishments are not properly awarded, the people do not know how to move hand or foot. Therefore a superior man considers it necessary that the names he uses may be spoken appropriately, and also that what he speaks may be carried out appropriately. What the superior man requires is just that in his words there may be nothing incorrect.”

13.4  Fan Chi requested to be taught husbandry. The Master said, “I am not so good for that as an old husbandman.” He requested also to be taught gardening, and was answered, “I am not so good for that as an old gardener.” Fan Chi having gone out, the Master said, “A small man, indeed, is Fan Hsu! If a superior man love propriety, the people will not dare not to be reverent. If he love righteousness, the people will not dare not to submit to his example. If he love good faith, the people will not dare not to be sincere. Now, when these things obtain, the people from all quarters will come to him, bearing their children on their backs; what need has he of a knowledge of husbandry?”

 

13.5 The Master said, “Though a man may be able to recite the three hundred odes, yet if, when intrusted with a governmental charge, he knows not how to act, or if, when sent to any quarter on a mission, he cannot give his replies unassisted, notwithstanding the extent of his learning, of what practical use is it?”

 

13.6 The Master said, “When a prince’s personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without the issuing of orders. If his personal conduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed.”

 

13.7 The Master said, “The governments of Lu and Wei are brothers.”

 

13.8 The Master said of Jing, a scion of the ducal family of Wei, that he knew the economy of a family well. When he began to have means, he said, “Ha! here is a collection-!” When they were a little increased, he said, “Ha! this is complete!” When he had become rich, he said, “Ha! this is admirable!”

 

13.9 When the Master went to Weil, Ran You acted as driver of his carriage. The Master observed, “How numerous are the people!” Yu said, “Since they are thus numerous, what more shall be done for them?” “Enrich them, was the reply. And when they have been enriched, what more shall be done?” The Master said, “Teach them.”

 

13.10 The Master said, “If there were any of the princes who would employ me, in the course of twelve months, I should have done something considerable. In three years, the government would be perfected.”

 

13.11 The Master said, “’If good men were to govern a country in succession for a hundred years, they would be able to transform the violently bad, and dispense with capital punishments.’ True indeed is this saying!”

 

13.12 The Master said, “If a truly royal ruler were to arise, it would stir require a generation, and then virtue would prevail.”

 

13.13 The Master said, “If a minister make his own conduct correct, what difficulty will he have in assisting in government? If he cannot rectify himself, what has he to do with rectifying others?”

 

13.14 Ranzi returning from the court, the Master said to him, “How are you so late?” He replied, “We had government business.” The Master said, “It must have been family affairs. If there had been government business, though I am not now in office, I should have been consulted about it.”

 

13.15 The prince Ding asked whether there was a single sentence which could make a country prosperous. Confucius replied, “Such an effect cannot be expected from one sentence. There is a saying, however, which people have ----- ‘To be a prince is difficult; to be a minister is not easy.’ If a ruler knows this, ---- the difficulty of being a prince, ---- may there not be expected from this one sentence the prosperity of his country?” The duke then said, “Is there a single sentence which can ruin a country?” Confucius replied, “Such an effect as that cannot be expected from one sentence. There is, however, the saying which people have ---- ‘I have no pleasure in being a prince, but only in that no one can offer any opposition to what I say!’ If a ruler’s words be good, is it not also good that no one oppose them? But if they are not good, and no one opposes them, may there not be expected from this one sentence the ruin of his country?”

 

13.16 The Duke of She asked about government. The Master said, “Good government obtains when those who are near are made happy, and those who are far off are attracted.”

 

13.17 Zixia being governor of Jufu, asked about government. The Master said, “Do not be desirous to have things done quickly; do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.”

 

13.18 The Duke of She informed Confucius, saying, “Among us here there are those who may be styled upright in their conduct. If their fathers have stolen a sheep, they will bear witness to the fact.” Confucius said, “Among us, in our part of the country, those who are upright are different from this. The father conceals the misconduct of the son, and the son conceals the misconduct of the father. Uprightness is to be found in this.”

 

13.19 Fan Chi asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, “It is, in retirement, to be sedately grave; in the management of business, to be reverently attentive; in intercourse with others, to be strictly sincere. Though a man go among rude, uncultivated tribes, these qualities may not be neglected.”

 

13.20 Zigong asked, saying, “What qualities must a man possess to entitle him to be called an officer? The Master said, “He who in his conduct of himself maintains a sense of shame, and when sent to any quarter will not disgrace his prince’s commission, deserves to be called an officer.” Zigong pursued, “I venture to ask who may be placed in the next lower rank?” And he was told, “He whom the circle of his relatives pronounce to be filial, whom his fellow villagers and neighbors pronounce to be fraternal.” Again the disciple asked, “I venture to ask about the class still next in order.” The Master said, “They are determined to be sincere in what they say, and to carry out what they do. They are obstinate little men. Yet perhaps they may make the next class.” Zigong finally inquired, “Of what sort are those of the present day, who engage in government?” The Master said “Pooh! they are so many pecks and hampers, not worth being taken into account.”

 

13.21 The Master said, “Since I cannot get men pursuing the due medium, to whom I might communicate my instructions, I must find the ardent and the cautiously-decided. The ardent will advance and lay hold of truth; the cautiously-decided will keep themselves from what is wrong.”

 

13.22 The Master said, “The people of the south have a saying ---- ‘A man without constancy cannot be either a wizard or a doctor.’ Good! Inconstant in his virtue, he will be visited with disgrace.” The Master said, “This arises simply from not attending to the prognostication.”

13.23 The Master said, “The superior man is affable, but not adulatory; the mean man is adulatory, but not affable.”

 

13.24 Zigong asked, saying, “What do you say of a man who is loved by all the people of his neighborhood?” The Master replied, “We may not for that accord our approval of him.” “And what do you say of him who is hated by all the people of his neighborhood?” The Master said, “We may not for that conclude that he is bad. It is better than either of these cases that the good in the neighborhood love him, and the bad hate him.”

 

13.25 The Master said, “The superior man is easy to serve and difficult to please. If you try to please him in any way which is not accordant with right, he will not be pleased. But in his employment of men, he uses them according to their capacity. The mean man is difficult to serve, and easy to please. If you try to please him, though it be in a way which is not accordant with right, he may be pleased. But in his employment of men, he wishes them to be equal to everything.”

 

13.26 The Master said, “The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.”

 

13.27 The Master said, “The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.”

 

13.28 Zilu asked, saying, “What qualities must a man possess to entitle him to be called a scholar?” The Master said, “He must be thus,-earnest, urgent, and bland:-among his friends, earnest and urgent; among his brethren, bland.”

 

13.29 The Master said, “Let a good man teach the people seven years, and they may then likewise be employed in war.”

 

13.30 The Master said, “To lead an uninstructed people to war, is to throw them away.”