The Analects论语

Book 9, Passage 9.19

The Master said, 'The prosecution of learning may be compared to what may happen in raising a mound. If there want but one basket of earth to complete the work,…

子曰:“譬如为山,未成一篑,止,吾止也。譬如平地,虽覆一篑,进,”…
All 31 passages in Book 919 of 31
1 sentences · 1 notes
子zǐ曰yuē:“譬pì如rú为wéi山shān,未wèi成chéng一yī篑kuì,止zhǐ,吾wú止zhǐ也yě。譬pì如rú平píng地dì,虽suī覆fù一yī篑kuì,进jìn,吾wú往wǎng也yě。”

1The Master said, 'The prosecution of learning may be compared to what may happen in raising a mound. If there want but one basket of earth to complete the work, and I stop, the stopping is my own work. It may be compared to throwing down the earth on the level ground. Though but one basketful is thrown at a time, the advancing with it is my own going forward.'

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.

篑:盛土的筐子。

All 31 passages in Book 9