Book 2, Passage 2.21

Some one addressed Confucius, saying, 'Sir, why are you not engaged in the government?'

或谓孔子曰：“子奚不为政？”子曰：“《书》云：“孝乎惟孝，友于兄弟。””…

All 24 passages in Book 221 of 24

2 sentences · 4 notes

或huò谓wèi孔kǒng子zǐ曰yuē：“子zǐ奚xī不bù为wéi政zhèng？”子zǐ曰yuē：“《书shū》云yún：“孝xiào乎hū惟wéi孝xiào，友yǒu于yú兄xiōng弟dì。”施shī于yú有yǒu政zhèng，是shì亦yì为wéi政zhèng，奚xī其qí为wéi为wéi政zhèng？”

1Some one addressed Confucius, saying, 'Sir, why are you not engaged in the government?'

2The Master said, 'What does the Shu-ching say of filial piety?-- "You are filial, you discharge your brotherly duties. These qualities are displayed in government." This then also constitutes the exercise of government. Why must there be THAT-- making one be in the government?'

Chinese commentary · 4 notes

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

或：有人。

奚：疑问词，当“何、怎么、为什么”讲。

《书》：指《尚书》。“《书》云”以下二句见伪《古文尚书·君陈》，略有出人，可能是《尚书》逸文。

施于有政：“有”在此无实在的意义。

All 24 passages in Book 2

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