The Analects论语

Book 16, Passage 16.9

Confucius said, 'Those who are born with the possession of knowledge are the highest class of men. Those who learn, and so, readily, get possession of knowledge…

孔子曰:“生而知之者,上也;学而知之者,次也:困而学之,又其次也;”…
All 14 passages in Book 169 of 14
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孔kǒng子zǐ曰yuē:“生shēng而ér知zhī之zhī者zhě,上shàng也yě;学xué而ér知zhī之zhī者zhě,次cì也yě:困kùn而ér学xué之zhī,又yòu其qí次cì也yě;困kùn而ér不bù学xué,民mín斯sī为wéi下xià矣yǐ。”

1Confucius said, 'Those who are born with the possession of knowledge are the highest class of men. Those who learn, and so, readily, get possession of knowledge, are the next. Those who are dull and stupid, and yet compass the learning, are another class next to these. As to those who are dull and stupid and yet do not learn;-- they are the lowest of the people.'

All 14 passages in Book 16