The Analects论语

Book 13, Passage 13.4

Fan Ch'ih requested to be taught husbandry. The Master said, 'I am not so good for that as an old husbandman.' He requested also to be taught gardening, and was…

樊迟请学稼,子曰:“吾不如老农。”请学为圃,曰:“吾不如老圃。”…
All 30 passages in Book 134 of 30
3 sentences · 1 notes
樊fán迟chí请qǐng学xué稼jià,子zǐ曰yuē:“吾wú不bù如rú老lǎo农nóng。”请qǐng学xué为wéi圃pǔ,曰yuē:“吾wú不bù如rú老lǎo圃pǔ。”樊fán迟chí出chū。子zǐ曰yuē:“小xiǎo人rén哉zāi,樊fán须xū也yě!上shàng好hào礼lǐ,则zé民mín莫mò敢gǎn不bù敬jìng;上shàng好hào义yì,则zé民mín莫mò敢gǎn不bù服fú;上shàng好hào信xìn,则zé民mín莫mò敢gǎn不bù用yòng情qíng。夫fú如rú是shì,则zé四sì方fāng之zhī民mín襁qiǎng负fù其qí子zǐ而ér至zhì矣yǐ,焉yān用yòng稼jià?”

1Fan Ch'ih requested to be taught husbandry. The Master said, 'I am not so good for that as an old husbandman.' He requested also to be taught gardening, and was answered, 'I am not so good for that as an old gardener.'

2Fan Ch'ih having gone out, the Master said, 'A small man, indeed, is Fan Hsu!

3If a superior love propriety, the people will not dare not to be reverent. If he love righteousness, the people will not dare not to submit to his example. If he love good faith, the people will not dare not to be sincere. Now, when these things obtain, the people from all quarters will come to him, bearing their children on their backs;-- what need has he of a knowledge of husbandry?'

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.

襁:背负小孩所用的布兜子。

All 30 passages in Book 13