The Analects/Book 13/13.21

Book 13, Passage 13.21

The Master said, 'Since I cannot get men pursuing the due medium, to whom I might communicate my instructions, I must find the ardent and the cautiously-decided…

子曰：“不得中行而与之，必也狂狷乎！狂者进取，狷者有所不为也。”

All 30 passages in Book 1321 of 30

1 sentences · 2 notes

子zǐ曰yuē：“不bù得dé中zhōng行xíng而ér与yǔ之zhī，必bì也yě狂kuáng狷juàn乎hū！狂kuáng者zhě进jìn取qǔ，狷juàn者zhě有yǒu所suǒ不bù为wéi也yě。”

1The Master said, 'Since I cannot get men pursuing the due medium, to whom I might communicate my instructions, I must find the ardent and the cautiously-decided. The ardent will advance and lay hold of truth; the cautiously-decided will keep themselves from what is wrong.'

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.

中行：行为合乎中庸。与：相与，交往。

狷：性情耿介，不肯同流合污。

All 30 passages in Book 13

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