The Analects论语

Book 4, Passage 4.5

The Master said, 'Riches and honours are what men desire. If it cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held. Poverty and meanness are what men…

子曰:“富与贵,是人之所欲也;不以其道得之,不处也。贫与贱,”…
All 26 passages in Book 45 of 26
3 sentences · 3 notes
子zǐ曰yuē:“富fù与yǔ贵guì,是shì人rén之zhī所suǒ欲yù也yě;不bù以yǐ其qí道dào得dé之zhī,不bù处chǔ也yě。贫pín与yǔ贱jiàn,是shì人rén之zhī所suǒ恶è也yě;不bù以yǐ其qí道dào得dé之zhī,不bù去qù也yě。君jūn子zǐ去qù仁rén,恶wū乎hū成chéng名míng?君jūn子zǐ无wú终zhōng食sì之zhī间jiān违wéi仁rén,造zào次cì必bì于yú是shì,颠diān沛pèi必bì于yú是shì。”

1The Master said, 'Riches and honours are what men desire. If it cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held. Poverty and meanness are what men dislike. If it cannot be avoided in the proper way, they should not be avoided.

2'If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil the requirements of that name?

3'The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.'

Chinese commentary · 3 notes

The notes printed with this passage in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.

恶乎:怎样。

造次:急促、仓猝。

颠沛:用以形容人事困顿,社会动乱。

All 26 passages in Book 4