The Analects/Book 18/18.5

Book 18, Passage 18.5

The madman of Ch'u, Chieh-yu, passed by Confucius, singing and saying, 'O FANG! O FANG! How is your virtue degenerated! As to the past, reproof is useless; but…

楚狂接舆歌而过孔子曰：“凤兮！凤兮！何德之衰？往者不可谏，”…

All 11 passages in Book 185 of 11

2 sentences · 1 notes

楚chǔ狂kuáng接jiē舆yú歌gē而ér过guò孔kǒng子zǐ曰yuē：“凤fèng兮xī！凤fèng兮xī！何hé德dé之zhī衰shuāi？往wǎng者zhě不bù可kě谏jiàn，来lái者zhě犹yóu可kě追zhuī。已yǐ而ér！已yǐ而ér！今jīn之zhī从cóng政zhèng者zhě殆dài而ér！”孔kǒng子zǐ下xià，欲yù与yǔ之zhī言yán。趋qū而ér辟pì之zhī，不bù得dé与yǔ之zhī言yán。

1The madman of Ch'u, Chieh-yu, passed by Confucius, singing and saying, 'O FANG! O FANG! How is your virtue degenerated! As to the past, reproof is useless; but the future may still be provided against. Give up your vain pursuit. Give up your vain pursuit. Peril awaits those who now engage in affairs of government.'

2Confucius alighted and wished to converse with him, but Chieh-yu hastened away, so that he could not talk with him.

Chinese commentary · 1 notes

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

接舆：楚国的隐士。一说他姓接名舆，一说因他接孔子之车而歌，所以称他接舆。

All 11 passages in Book 18

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