许渊冲译《论语》

1.1　子曰：“学而时习之，不亦说乎？有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？人不知，而不愠，不亦君子乎？”

Is it not a delight, said the Master, to acquire knowledge and put it into practice? Is it not a pleasure to meet friends coming from afar? Is he not an intelligentleman, who is careless alike of being known or unknown?

1.3　子曰：“巧言令色，鲜矣仁！”

A good man, said the Master, would rarely say what he does not believe, or pretend to appear better than he is.

1.16　子曰：“不患人之不己知，患不知人也。”

I care less, said the Master, to be understood and recognized by other people than to understand and recognize others.

2.2　子曰：“《诗》三百，一言以蔽之，曰：‘思无邪’。”

There are three hundred poems in the Book of Poetry, said the Master. In a word, there is nothing improper.

2.4　子曰：“吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。”

At fifteen, said the Master, I was fond of learning. At thirty, I was established. At forty, I did not waver. At fifty, I knew my sacred mission. At sixty, I had a discerning ear. At seventy, I could do what I would without going beyond what is right.

2.12　子曰：“君子不器。”

An intelligentleman, said the Master, is not a mere implement.

2.13　子贡问君子。子曰：“先行其言而后从之。”

When Zi Gong asked about the intelligentleman, the Master said, "One whose deeds precede his words."

2.15　子曰：“学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆。”

To learn without thinking, said the Master, risks to be blind, while to think without learning risks to be impractical.

2.24　子曰：“非其鬼而祭之，谄也。见义不为，无勇也。”

To worship other ancestors than one's own, said the Master, reveals pretentions. Not to right the wrong shows the lack of courage.

3.8　子夏问曰：“‘巧笑倩兮，美目盼兮，素以为绚兮。’何谓也？”子曰：“绘事后素。”曰：“礼后乎？”子曰：“起予者商也！始可与言《诗》已矣。”

Zi Xia asked about the meaning of the following verse: "Ah! Dark on white her speaking eyes, Her cheeks with smiles and dimoles glow. Colored designs are made on plain silk." The Master said, "Colors should be put on the plain ground." Zi Xia asked if the rites should be performed on some ground. The Master said, "It is Zi Xia who understands me. Now I have someone with whom to talk about poetry."

3.18　子曰：“事君尽礼，人以为谄也。”

One who serves his prince nowadays in strict accordance with the rites, said the Master, would be considered as a sycophant.

3.21　哀公问社于宰我。宰我对曰：“夏后氏以松，殷人以柏，周人以栗，曰，使民战栗。”子闻之，曰：“成事不说，遂事不谏，既往不咎。”

When Duke Ai asked Zai Wo what symbol was used in the altar, Zai Wo replied, "The Xia rulers used the pine, the Yin rulers used the cypress, and the Zhou rulers used the chestnut, which means to chase the people off their nut." Hearing of this, the Master said, "What is done cannot be undone; what is accomplished need not be criticized, what is bygone need not be blamed."

4.7　子曰：“人之过也，各于其党。观过，斯知仁矣。”

A man's faults, said the Master, may reveal what kind of man he is. A man may be judged by his faults.

4.17　子曰：“见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。”

When you see a man better than you, said the Master, you should try to equal him. When you see a man doing wrong, you should ask yourself if you have done the same.

4.22　子曰：“古者言之不出，耻躬之不逮也。”

The ancients, said the Master, would not say what they could do, for they would be ashamed if their deeds disagreed with their words.

4.23　子曰：“以约失之者鲜矣。”

Few would make mistakes, said the Master, who could control themselves in accordance with the rules of propriety.

5.20　季文子三思而后行。子闻之，曰：“再，斯可矣。”

Ji Wen Zi would not take action until he thought it over thrice. Hearing of this, the Master said, "Twice is enough."

5.25　子曰：“巧言、令色、足恭，左丘明耻之，丘亦耻之。匿怨而友其人，左丘明耻之，丘亦耻之。”

Flowery words, hypocritical deeds, excessive respect, said the Master, are shamefulin the eyes of Zuo Qiuming, so are they in mine. To befriend those whom one resents is shameful in the eyes of Zuo Qiuming, so is it in mine.

5.27　子曰：“已矣乎，吾未见能见其过而内自讼者也。”

In vain, said the Master, have I looked for one who could find out his own faults and blame himself.

6.11　子曰：“贤哉，回也！一箪食，一瓢饮，在陋巷，人不堪其忧，回也不改其乐。贤哉，回也！”

How good Yan Hui was, said the Master, living in a humble lane with only a handful of rice to eat and a gourdful of water to drink! Others could not bear such a wretched life, but Yan Hui was as happy as ever. How good Yan Hui was!

6.12　冉求曰：“非不说子之道，力不足也。”子曰：“力不足者，中道而废。今女画。”

Ran Qiu said, "It is not that I am not delighted to follow your way, but that I lack the power." The Master said, "Those who lack power may stop on the midway, but you have not yet started."

6.18　子曰：“质胜文则野，文胜质则史。文质彬彬，然后君子。”

More natural than cultured, said the Master, one would appear rustic. More cultured than natural, one would appear artificial. An intelligentle man should appear both cultured and natural.

6.21　子曰：“中人以上，可以语上也；中人以下，不可以语上也。”

We may talk about what goes beyond the understanding of the average, said the Master, with those who are above mediocrity, not with those who are below.

6.23　子曰：“知者乐水，仁者乐山。知者动，仁者静。知者乐，仁者寿。”

The wise, said the Master, delight in water while the good delight in mountains. The wise love mobility while the good love tranquillity. The wise live happy while the good live long.

7.25　子以四教：文，行，忠，信。”

The Master taught four things: culture, conduct, faithfulness and trustworthiness.

7.28　子曰：“盖有不知而作之者，我无是也。多闻，择其善者而从之；多见而识之；知之次也。”

There are those, said the Master, who do what they do not understand. but I am not among the number. I would learn again and again and choose and follow what is good and bear it in mind. Knowledge acquired is only next to innate gift.

8.13　子曰：“笃信好学，守死善道。危邦不入，乱邦不居。天下有道则见，无道则隐。邦有道，贫且贱焉，耻也；邦无道，富且贵焉，耻也。”

Be firm in belief and fond of learning, said the Master. Do not fear to die for truth. Do not enter a tottering state nor dwell in one in disorder. Appear where truth is followed and disappear where it is not. It is a shame to be poor and dishonored in a well-governed state as to be rich and honored in an ill-governed one.

9.4　子绝四——毋意，毋必，毋固，毋我。

The Master was entirely free from four things, namely, supposition, predetermination, obstination and self-assertion.

9.17　子在川上，曰：“逝者如斯夫！不舍昼夜。”

Standing by a stream, the Master said, "Time passes away night and day like running water."

9.18　子曰：“吾未见好德如好色者也。”

I have never seen a man, said the Master, who loves his duty more than beauty.

9.24　子曰：“法语之言，能无从乎？改之为贵。巽与之言，能无说乎？绎之为贵。说而不绎，从而不改，吾末如之何也已矣。”

Can we not follow, said the Master, the rules of propriety? It is important to change our ways when they are against the rules. Can we not be pleased with good advice? But it is important to analyse it. What can I do with a man pleased without analysis, or following without reform?

9.28　子曰：“岁寒，然后知松柏之后凋也。”

Only in the coldest weather, said the Master, can we realize that the pine and the cypress are the last to lose their leaves.

9.29　子曰：“知者不惑，仁者不忧，勇者不惧。”

The wise, said the Master, are free from doubt; the good, from worry; and the brave, from fear.

9.30　子曰：“可与共学，未可与适道；可与适道，未可与立；可与立，未可与权。”

One who studies together with you, said the Master, may not put what he studies into practice; another who puts it into practice may not get established; and a third who gets established may not share weal and woe with you.

11.4　子曰：“回也非助我者也，于吾言无所不说。”

Yan Hui, said the Master, was of little help to me. He was delighted in whatever I said.

11.17　季氏富于周公，而求也为之聚敛而附益之。子曰：“非吾徒也。小子鸣鼓而攻之，可也。”

The lord of the Ji Family was richer than the Duke of Zhou, yet Ran You collected revenues for him and increased his wealth. The Master said, "Ran You is no follower of mine. Dear disciples, you may beat your drum and assail him."

12.4　司马牛问君子。子曰：“君子不忧不惧。”曰：“不忧不惧，斯谓之君子已乎？”子曰：“内省不疚，夫何忧何惧？”

Sima Niu asked about an intelligentleman. The Master said, "An intelligentleman has no worry and no fear." Sima Niu said, "Can he be an intelligentleman, who simply has no worry and no fear?" The Master said, "If a man finds nothing wrong on looking within himself, what is there to worry about and to fear?"

12.15　子曰：“博学于文，约之以礼，亦可以弗畔矣夫！”

A cultured man, said the Master, if wide read in literature and restrained by the rites, would not overstep what is right.

12.16　子曰：“君子成人之美，不成人之恶。小人反是。”

A cultured man, said the Master, will help others in doing good, not in doing wrong. An uncultured man will do the contrary.

13.6　子曰：“其身正，不令而行；其身不正，虽令不从。” 

An upright ruler, said the Master, will be obeyed though he gives no order. If he is not upright, he will not be obeyed though he gives orders.

13.16　叶公问政。子曰：“近者悦，远者来。”

The Duke of She asked about the art of ruling. The Master said, "Make the near happy to stay and the far-off happy to come."

13.17　子夏为莒父宰，问政。子曰：“无欲速，无见小利。欲速，则不达；见小利，则大事不成。”

Zi Xia who became governor of Jufu asked about the art of ruling. The Master said, "Be neither hasty nor partial! For haste makes waste, and partiality loses entirety."

13.23　子曰：“君子和而不同，小人同而不和。”

A cultured man, said the Master, may disagree to reach an agreement, while an uncultured man dare not disagree but agrees without understanding.

13.27　子曰：“刚、毅、木、讷近仁。”

Strong and steady, said the Master, wooden and wordless, such a man is nearly a good man.

14.6　子曰：“君子而不仁者有矣夫，未有小人而仁者也。”

A cultured man, said the Master, may fall short of virtue, but none of the uncultured men will love virtue.

14.10　子曰：“贫而无怨难，富而无骄易。”

Poverty without complaint, said the Master, is more difficult than wealth without pride.

14.12　子路问成人。子曰：“若臧武仲之知，公绰之不欲，卞庄子之勇，冉求之艺，文之以礼乐，亦可以为成人矣。”曰：“今之成人者何必然？见利思义，见危授命，久要不忘平生之言，亦可以为成人矣。”

When Zi Lu asked what an accomplished man should be like, the Master said, "A man wise as Zang Wu Zhong, desire-free as Meng Gong Chuo, brave as Bian Zhuang Zi, and artful as Ran Qiu may be considered as an accomplished man if he is cultivated in ritual and music." He then added, "What is the need for an accomplished man of today to have all these things? If he should prefer the proper to the profit, risk his life in face of danger, and never forget a promise made long ago, I think he is good enough to be called an accomplished man."

14.24　子曰：“古之学者为己，今之学者为人。”

In old days, said the Master, men learned to improve themselves; nowadays, they learn to impress others.

14.29　子贡方人。子曰：“赐也贤乎哉？夫我则不暇。”

Zi Gong was always criticizing others. The Master said, "Zi Gong, are you good enough? As for me, I have no leisure to criticize others."

14.30　子曰：“不患人之不己知，患其不能也。”

Be not afraid, said the Master, that you are unknown, but that you are unable.

14.43　原壤夷俟。子曰：“幼而不孙弟，长而无述焉，老而不死，是为贼。”以杖叩其胫。

Yuan Rong waited for Confucius, squatting on the heels. The Master said, "Immodest in youth, unaccomplished in manhood and useless in old age, such a man would be a pest." He struck him on the slank with his staff.

15.3　子曰：“赐也，女以予为多学而识之者与？”对曰：“然，非与？”曰：“非也，予一以贯之。”

The Master said to Zi Gong, "Do you think I am a man who knows many things and keeps them in memory?" Zi Gong said, "Yes, is it not so?" The Master said, "No, I know only one in many and many in one."

15.8　子曰：“可与言而不与之言，失人；不可与言而与之言，失言。知者不失人，亦不失言。”

Not to talk to a worthy man, said the Master, is to lose the man, and to talk to an unworthy man is to waste words. The wise will neither lose a man nor waste words.

15.12　子曰：“人无远虑，必有近忧。”

If you have no long sight, said the Master, trouble will be near at hand.

15.21　子曰：“君子求诸己，小人求诸人。”

An intelligentleman, said the Master, relies on himself while an uncultured man relies on others.

15.27　子曰：“巧言乱德。小不忍，则乱大谋。”

Sweet words, said the Master, may sour the deeds. Impatience in minor matter may cause failure in main matter.

16.4　孔子曰：“益者三友，损者三友。友直，友谅①，友多闻，益矣。友便辟，友善柔，友便佞，损矣。”

Three kinds of friend will do you good, said Confucius, and other three will do you harm. To make friends with the upright, the faithful and the well-informed will do you good; to make friends with the prejudicial, the insidious and the hypocritical will do you harm.

17.3　子曰：“唯上知与下愚不移。”

Only the wisest man and the most foolish, said the Master, cannot be changed.

17.6　子张问仁于孔子。孔子曰：“能行五者于天下为仁矣。”“请问之。”曰：“恭，宽，信，敏，惠。恭则不侮，宽则得众，信则人任焉，敏则有功，惠则足以使人。”

Zi Zhang asked Confucius, "What is a good ruler?" Confucius said, "One who can develp the five qualities in the world could be a good ruler." When Zi Lu begged to know which five, the Master said, "Reverence, lenience, confidence, diligence and benevolence. Reverent, he would not hurt; lenient, he would win support; confident, he would be trusted; diligent, he would succeed; and benevolent, he could employ people."

19.5　子夏曰：“日知其所亡，月无忘其所能，可谓好学也已矣。”

Zi Xia said, "If a man knows what he has not yet learned everyday and does not forget what he has learned every month, he may be said to be a lover of knowledge."

19.21　子贡曰：“君子之过也，如日月之食焉：过也，人皆见之；更也，人皆仰之。”

Master Zeng said, "The faults of an intelligentleman are like eclipses of the sun or the moon. When he does something wrong, all men can see it. When he has amended his fault, all men look up to him."

20.3　孔子曰：“不知命，无以为君子也；不知礼，无以立也；不知言，无以知人也。”

Confucius said, "One who does not understand the divine law cannot be called an intelligentleman. One who does not understand the social order cannot stand in society. One who does not understand what wards imply cannot understand men."