The Analects论语

Book 12, Passage 12.20

Tsze-chang asked, 'What must the officer be, who may be said to be distinguished?'

子张问:“士何如斯可谓之达矣?”子曰:“何哉,尔所谓达者?”…
All 24 passages in Book 1220 of 24
6 sentences · 2 notes
子zǐ张zhāng问wèn:“士shì何hé如rú斯sī可kě谓wèi之zhī达dá矣yǐ?”子zǐ曰yuē:“何hé哉zāi,尔ěr所suǒ谓wèi达dá者zhě?”子zǐ张zhāng对duì曰yuē:“在zài邦bāng必bì闻wén,在zài家jiā必bì闻wén。”子zǐ曰yuē:“是shì闻wén也yě,非fēi达dá也yě。夫fú达dá也yě者zhě,质zhì直zhí而ér好hào义yì,察chá言yán而ér观guān色sè,虑lǜ以yǐ下xià人rén。在zài邦bāng必bì达dá,在zài家jiā必bì达dá。夫fú闻wén也yě者zhě,色sè取qǔ仁rén而ér行xíng违wéi,居jū之zhī不bù疑yí。在zài邦bāng必bì闻wén,在zài家jiā必bì闻wén。”

1Tsze-chang asked, 'What must the officer be, who may be said to be distinguished?'

2The Master said, 'What is it you call being distinguished?'

3Tsze-chang replied, 'It is to be heard of through the State, to be heard of throughout his clan.'

4The Master said, 'That is notoriety, not distinction.

5'Now the man of distinction is solid and straightforward, and loves righteousness. He examines people's words, and looks at their countenances. He is anxious to humble himself to others. Such a man will be distinguished in the country; he will be distinguished in his clan.

6'As to the man of notoriety, he assumes the appearance of virtue, but his actions are opposed to it, and he rests in this character without any doubts about himself. Such a man will be heard of in the country; he will be heard of in the clan.'

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.

达:通达。

下人:下于人,即对人谦逊。

All 24 passages in Book 12