The Analects论语

Book 14, Passage 14.13

The Master asked Kung-ming Chia about Kung- shu Wan, saying, 'Is it true that your master speaks not, laughs not, and takes not?'

子问公叔文子于公明贾曰:“信乎?夫子不言,不笑,不取乎?”…
All 44 passages in Book 1413 of 44
2 sentences · 2 notes
子zǐ问wèn公gōng叔shū文wén子zǐ于yú公gōng明míng贾jiǎ曰yuē:“信xìn乎hū?夫fū子zǐ不bù言yán,不bù笑xiào,不bù取qǔ乎hū?”公gōng明míng贾jiǎ对duì曰yuē:“以yǐ告gào者zhě过guò也yě。夫fū子zǐ时shí然rán后hòu言yán,人rén不bù厌yàn其qí言yán;乐lè然rán后hòu笑xiào,人rén不bù厌yàn其qí笑xiào:义yì然rán后hòu取qǔ,人rén不bù厌yàn其qí取qǔ。”子zǐ曰yuē:“其qí然rán?岂qǐ其qí然rán乎hū?”

1The Master asked Kung-ming Chia about Kung- shu Wan, saying, 'Is it true that your master speaks not, laughs not, and takes not?'

2Kung-ming Chia replied, 'This has arisen from the reporters going beyond the truth.-- My master speaks when it is the time to speak, and so men do not get tired of his speaking. He laughs when there is occasion to be joyful, and so men do not get tired of his laughing. He takes when it is consistent with righteousness to do so, and so men do not get tired of his taking.' The Master said, 'So! But is it so with him?'

Chinese commentary · 2 notes

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

公叔文子:卫国的大夫。公明贾:卫国人,姓公明,名贾。

以:此。

All 44 passages in Book 14