The Analects论语

Book 12, Passage 12.8

Chi Tsze-ch'ang said, 'In a superior man it is only the substantial qualities which are wanted;-- why should we seek for ornamental accomplishments?'

棘子成曰“君子质而已矣,何以文为?”子贡曰:“惜乎,夫子之说君子也!”…
All 24 passages in Book 128 of 24
3 sentences · 6 notes
棘jí子zǐ成chéng曰yuē“君jūn子zǐ质zhì而ér已yǐ矣yǐ,何hé以yǐ文wén为wéi?”子zǐ贡gòng曰yuē:“惜xī乎hū,夫fū子zǐ之zhī说shuō君jūn子zǐ也yě!驷sì不bù及jí舌shé。文wén犹yóu质zhì也yě,质zhì犹yóu文wén也yě。虎hǔ豹bào之zhī鞟kuò犹yóu犬quǎn羊yáng之zhī鞟kuò。”

1Chi Tsze-ch'ang said, 'In a superior man it is only the substantial qualities which are wanted;-- why should we seek for ornamental accomplishments?'

2Tsze-kung said, 'Alas! Your words, sir, show you to be a superior man, but four horses cannot overtake the tongue.

3Ornament is as substance; substance is as ornament. The hide of a tiger or a leopard stripped of its hair, is like the hide of a dog or a goat stripped of its hair.'

Chinese commentary · 6 notes

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

棘子成:卫国大夫。古代大夫尊称为“夫子”,故子贡以此称之。

质:质地,指思想品德。

文:文采,指礼节仪式。

说:谈论。

驷不及舌:话一出囗,四匹马也追不回来,即“一言既出,驷马难追”。

鞟:去毛的兽皮。

All 24 passages in Book 12