子曰:“君子食無求飽,居無求安,敏於事而慎於言,就有道而正焉,可謂好學也已。”
Confucius said:”Noblemen no desire to eat fully and no intention to dwell comfortably. They always work hard and quickly while be cautious on their own words. They would like to correct their own performances by associating with virtuous people. This kind of people could be described as eager to learn.”
有子曰:“信近於義,言可複也。恭近於禮,遠恥辱也。因不失其親,亦可宗也。”
Youcicus said:”You could have the opportunities to speak out your ideas and be trusted by people repeatedly only when your faiths are based on justices.
You never be insulted if your performances were modest while comply with etiquettes. Some people could be treated as ancestors as their descendants are endless.“
有子曰:“禮之用,和為貴。先王之道,斯為美。小大由之,有所不行。知和而和,不以禮節之,亦不可行也。”
Youcius said:”The most important function of etiquette is to maintain harmony, which was valued and advocated by our ancestral kings. It is not practicable if we just aim at maintaining harmony under any circumstances. Maintaining the harmony when all parties have formed a consensus. The harmony won’t last long and will be ruined if it is not restricted by etiquettes.”
子曰:“父在,觀其誌;父沒,觀其行;三年無改於父之道,可謂孝矣。”
Confucius said:”Watch on a man’s ambitions when his father is alive; Watch on his performances after his father’s death. He then could be called a filial man if his performances still has not contravened his father philosophy for many years since his father died.”
子禽問於子貢曰:“夫子至於是邦也,必聞其政,求之與,抑與之與?”子貢曰:“夫子溫、良、恭、儉、讓以得之。夫子之求之也,其諸異乎人之求之與?”
Zi Qin asked Zi Gong :”Confucius always could obtain lots of information about the state management when he arrived in a state. Is that a privilege he requested or be granted?”
Zi Gong answered:”Confucius received that privilege by his own gentleness, goodness, politeness, thrift, and modesty. The way that Confucius employed to request for something is different from what the common people employed, isn’t it ?”
曾子曰:“慎終追遠,民德歸厚矣。”
Zengcius said:”The social morals level will be high if more people could treat the death seriously and pursue long-term positive effects on their actions.”
子曰:“君子不重則不威,學則不固。主忠信,無友不如己者,過,則勿憚改。”
Confucius said: ”Noblemen neither receive others’ respect nor obtain solid knowledge if they can’t act seriously and stably. Noblemen shall focus on loyalty and faith, and shall not make friends with the people who has no desire to advance. Noblemen shall correct their mistakes immediately without any hesitation.”
子夏曰:“賢賢易色;事父母,能竭其力;事君,能致其身;與朋友交,言而有信。雖曰未學,吾必謂之學矣。”
Zi Xia said:”Some people emphasize on enhancing their merit instead of paying more attention on glossy veneer. They do their best to take care of their parents. They are willing to devote their lives to serve their monarchs. They always keep their words when deal with friends. Although they called themselves uneducated, but absolutely I would call them well educated.”
子曰:“弟子入則孝,出則弟,謹而信,泛愛眾,而親仁,行有餘力,則以學文。”
Confucius said:”My students shall respect and treat their elders kindly at home; deal with others modestly and politely in society; to be cautious and faithful always; spread their concern and love to the people as extensive as possible; to be close to the persons with kindheartedness; they could study literature if they still have spare time and energy after completing their daily routine.”
子曰:“道千乘之國,敬事而信,節用而愛人,使民以時。
Confucius said: ”To rule a big country well the government shall pay attention to the following aspects: be serious in making each policy and be faithful to implement it; consuming goods economically but don’t treat the people harshly; employing the people to work at proper times every year.”
子曰:“巧言令色,鮮矣仁!”
Confucius said: ”The people who often flatter their words or expressions are unlikely have kindheartedness.”
曾子曰:“吾日三省吾身:為人謀而不忠乎?與朋友交而不信乎?傳不習乎?”
Zengcius said: “Everyday I examine my behaviours and thoughts many times in three areas: if I was unfaithful when design scheme for others? If I was dishonest when deal with friends?If I have not mastered my teacher’s instructions?”
有子曰:“其為人也孝弟,而好犯上者,鮮矣;不好犯上而好作亂者,未之有也。君子務本,本立而道生。孝弟也者,其為仁之本與!”
Youcius said:”It’s few that someone who always takes care of seniors and juniors kindly but likes offending his/her supervisor;
It’s impossible that someone who doesn’t like offending his/her supervisor but like to violate rules and regulations;
Gentlemen lay emphasis on base, as the moralities will develop from the base.
The base of kindheartedness is to treat both seniors and juniors kindly.”
子曰:“學而時習之,不亦說乎?
有朋自遠方來,不亦樂乎?
人不知而不慍(yùn),不亦君子乎?”
Confucius said:”It is delightful to acquire new knowledge and apply them in real life regularly, isn’t it?
It is pleasant to have friends coming from afar, isn’t it?
It is noblemen’s manner to keep calm when the learners didn’t understand what they were taught.”