论语英译 辜鸿铭

THE DISCOURSES AND SAYINGS OF CONFUCIUS CHAPTER I 1. Confucius remarked, “It is indeed a pleasure to acquire knowledge and, as you go on acquiring, to put into practice what you have acquired. A greater pleasure still it is when friends of congenial minds come from afar to seek you because of you attainments. But he is truly a wise and good man who feels no discomposure even when he is not noticed of men.” 2. A disciple of Confucius remarked, “A man who is a good son and a good citizen will seldom be found to be a man disposed to quarrel with those in authority over him; and men who are not disposed to quarrel with those in authority will never be found to disturb the peace and order of the Sate.” “A wise man devotes his attention to what is essential in the foundation of life. When the foundation is laid, wisdom will come. Now, to be a good son and a good citizen—do not these form the foundation of a moral life?” 3. Confucius remarked, “With plausible speech and fine manners will seldom be found moral character.” 4. A disciple of Confucius remarked, “I daily examine into my personal conduct on three points:--First, whether in carrying out the duties entrusted to me by others, I have not failed in conscientiousness; Secondly, whether in intercourse with friends, I have not failed in sincerity and trustworthiness; Thirdly, whether I have not failed to practice what I profess in my teaching.” 5. Confucius remarked, “When directing the affairs of a great nation, a man must be serious in attention to business and faithful and punctual in his engagements. He must study economy in the public expenditure, and love the welfare of the people. He must employ the people at the proper time of the year.” 6. Confucius remarked, “A young man, when at home, should be a good son; when out in the world, a good citizen. He should be circumspect and truthful. He should be in sympathy with all men, but intimate with men of moral character. If he has time and opportunity to spare, after the performance of those duties, he should then employ them in literary pursuits.” 7. A disciple of Confucius remarked, “A man who can love worthiness in man as he loves beauty in woman; who in his duties to his parents is ready to do his utmost, and in the service of his prince is ready to give up his life; who in intercourse with friends is found trustworthy in what has says, --such a man, although men may say of him that he is an uneducated man, I must consider him to be really an educated man.” 8. Confucius remarked, “A wise man who is not serious will not inspire respect; what he learns will not remain permanent.” “Make conscientiousness and sincerity your first principles.” “Have no friends who are not as yourself.” “When you have bad habits do not hesitate to change them.” 9. A disciple of Confucius remarked, “By cultivating respect for the dead, and carrying the memory back to the distant past , the moral feeling of the people will waken and grow in depth.” 10. A man once asked a disciple of Confucius, saying, “How was it that whenever the Master came into a country he was always informed of the actual state and policy of its government? Did he seek for the information or was it given to him?” “The Master,” replied the disciple, “was gracious, simple, earnest, modest and courteous; therefore he could obtain what information he wanted. The Master’s way of obtaining information—well, it was different from other people’s ways.” 11. Confucius remarked, “When a man’s father is living the son should have regard to what his father would have him do; when the father is dead, to what his father has done. A son who for three years after his father’s death does not in his own life change his father’s principles, may be said to be a good son.” 12. A disciple of Confucius remarked, “In the practice of art, what is valuable is natural spontaneity. According to the rules of art held by the ancient kings it was this quality in a work of art which constituted his excellence; in great as well as in small things they were guided by this principle.” “But in being natural there is something not permitted. To know that it is necessary to be natural without restraining the impulse to be natural by the strict principle of art, --that is something not permitted.’ 13. A disciple of Confucius remarked, “If you make promises within the bounds of what is right, you will be able to keep your word. If you confine earnestness within the bounds of judgment and good taste, you will keep out of discomfiture and insult. If you make friends of those with whom you ought to, you will be able to depend upon them.” 14. Confucius remarked, “A wise and good man, in matters of food, should never seek to indulge his appetite; in lodging, he should not be too solicitous of comfort. He should be diligent in business and careful in speech. He should seek for the company of men of virtue and learning, in order to profit by their lessons and example. In this way he may become a man of real culture.” 15. A disciple of Confucius said to him, “To be poor and yet not to be servile; to be rich and yet not to be proud, what do you say to that?” “It is good.” Replied Confucius, “but better still it is to be poor and yet contented; to be rich and yet know how to be courteous.” “I understand,” answered the disciple: ‘We must cut, we must file,’ ‘Must chisel and must grind.’ “My friend,” replied Confucius, “now I can begin to speak of poetry to you. I see you understand how to apply the moral.” 16. Confucius remarked, “One should not be concerned not to be understood of men; one should be concerned not to understand men.” CHAPTER II 1. Confucius remarked, “He who rules the people, depending upon the moral sentiment, is like the Pole-star, which keeps its place while all the other stars revolve round it.” 2. Confucius remarked, “The Book of Ballads, Songs and Psalms contains three hundred pieces. The moral of them all may be summed up in one sentence: ‘Have no evil thoughts.’” 3. Confucius remarked, “If in government you depend upon laws, and maintain order by enforcing those laws by punishments, you can also make the people keep away from wrong—doing, but they will lose the sense of shame for wrong—doing. If, on the other hand, in government you depend upon the moral sentiment, and maintain order by encouraging education and good manners, the people will have a sense of shame for wrong—doing and, moreover, will emulate what is good.” 4. Confucius remarked, “At fifteen I had made up my mind to give myself up to serious studies. At thirty I had formed my opinions and judgment. A forty I had no more doubts. At fifty I understood the truth in religion. At sixty I could understand whatever I heard without exertion. At seventy I could follow whatever my heart desired without transgressing the law.” 5. A noble of Court in Confucius’ native State asked him what constituted the duty of a good son. Confucius answered, “Do not fail in what is required of you.” Afterwards, as a disciple was driving him in his carriage, Confucius told the disciple, saying, “My Lord M—asked me what constituted the duty of a good son, and I answered, ‘Do not fail in what is required of you.’” “What did you mean by that?” asked the disciple. “I meant,” replied Confucius, “when his parents are living, a good son should do his duties to them according to the usage prescribed by propriety; when they are dead, he should bury them and honour their memory according to the rites prescribed by propriety.” 6. A son of the noble mentioned above put the same question to Confucius as his father did. Confucius answered, “Think how anxious your parents are when you are sick, and you will know your duty towards them.” 7. A disciple of Confucius asked him the same question as the above. Confucius answered, “The duty for a good son nowadays means only to be able to support his parents. But you also keep your dogs and horse alive. If there is no feeling of love and respect, where is the difference?” 8. Another disciple asked the same question. Confucius answered, “The difficulty is with the expression of your look. That merely when anything is to be done the young people do it, and when there is food and wine the old folk are allowed to enjoy it, --do you think that is the whole duty of a good son?” 9. Confucius, speaking of a favourite disciple whose name was Yen Hui, remarked, “I have talked with him for one whole day, during which he has never once raised one single objection to what I have said, as if he were dull of understanding. But when he has retired, on examining into his life and conversation I find he has been able to profit by what I have said to him. No—he is not a man dull of understanding.” 10. Confucius remarked, “You look at how a man acts; consider his motives; find out his tastes. How can a man hide himself; how can he hide himself from you?” 11. Confucius remarked, “If a man will constantly go over what he has acquired and keep continually adding to it new acquirements, he may become a teacher of men.” 12. Confucius remarked, “A wise man will not make himself into a mere machine fit oly to do one kind of work.” 13. A disciple enquired what constituted a wise and good man. Confucius answered, “A wise and good man is one who acts before speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.” 14. Confucius remarked, “A wise man is impartial, not neutral. A fool is neutral but not impartial.” 15. Confucius remarked, “Study without thinking is labour lost. Thinking without study is perilous.” 16. Confucius remarked, “To give oneself up to the study of metaphysical theories—that is very injurious indeed.” 17. Confucius said to a disciple, “Shall I teach you what is understanding? To know what it is that you know, and to know what is that you do not know, --that is understanding.” 18. A disciple was studying with a view to preferment. Confucius said to him, “Read and learn everything, but suspend your judgment on anything of which you are in doubt; for the rest, be careful in what you say: in that way you will give few occasions for men to criticize what you say. Mix with the world and see everything, but keep away and do not meddle with anything which may bring you into trouble; for the rest, be careful in what you do: in that way yuo will have few occasions for self—reproach.” “Now if in your conversation you give few occasions for men to criticise you, and in your conduct you have few occasions for self—reproach, you cannot help getting preferment, even if you would.” 19. The reigning prince of his native State asked Confucius what should be done to secure the submission of the people. Confucius answered, “Uphold the cause of the just and put down every cause that is unjust, and the people will submit. But uphold the cause of the unjust and put down every cause that is just, then the people will not submit.” 20. A noble who was the minister in power in the government in Confucius’ native State asked him what should be done to inspire a feeling of respect and loyalty in the people, in order to make them exert themselves for the good of the country. Confucius answered, “Treat them with seriousness and they will respect you. Let them see that you honour your parents and your prince, and are considerate for the welfare of those under you, and the people will be loyal to you. Advance those who excel in anything and educate the ignorant, and the people will exert themselves.” 21. Somebody asked Confucius, saying, “Why are you not taking part in the government of the country?” Confucius answered, “What does the ‘Book of records’ say of the duties of a good son?” “’Be dutiful to your parents; be brotherly to your brothers; discharge your duties in the government of your family.’ These, then, are also duties of government. Why then must one take part in the government of the country in order to discharge the duties of government?” 22. Confucius remarked, “I do not know how men get along without good faith. A cart without a yoke and a carriage without harness, --how could they go?” 23. A disciple asked Confucius whether ten generations after their time the state of the civilization of the world could be known. Confucius answered, “The House of Yin adopted the civilisation of the Hsia dynasty; what modifications they made is known. The present Chou dynasty adopted the civilization of the House of Yin; what modifications this last dynasty made are also known. Perhaps some other may hereafter take the place of the present Chou dynasty; but should that happen a hunderd generations after this, the state of the civilsation of the world then, can be known.” 24. Confucius remarked, “To worship a spirit to whom one is not bound by a real feeling of duty or respect is idolatry ; to see what is right and to act against one’s judgment shows a want of courage.” CHAPTER III 1. The head of a powerful family of nobles in Confucius’ native State employed eight sets of choristers [an Imperial prerogative] in their family chapel. Confucius, remarking on this, was heard to say, “If this is allowed to pass, what may not be allowed?” 2. The members of the same powerful family mentioned above concluded the service in their chapel by chanting the hymn used only on occasions of Imperial worship. Confucius remarked on it, saying; “The words of the hymn begin— ‘Surrounded by his nobles and princes, August the Son of Heaven looks;’ Now what is there in the chapel of this noble family to which those words of the hymn can be applied?” 3. Confucius remarked, “If a man is without moral character, what good can the use of the fine arts do him? If a man is without moral character, what good can the use of music do him?” 4. A disciple asked what constituted the fundamental principle of art. “That is a very great question.” replied Confucius, “but in the art used in social usages it is better to be simple than to be expensive; in rituals for the dead, it is better that there should be heartfelt grief than minute attention to observances.” 5. Confucius remarked, “The heathen hordes of the North and East, even, acknowledge the authority of their chiefs, whereas now in China respect for authority no longer exists anywhere.” 6. The head of the powerful family of nobles mentioned in section 1 of this chapter was going to offer sacrifice on the top of the Great T’ai Mountain [an Imperial prerogative]. Confucius then said to a disciple who was in the service of the noble, “Can you not do anything to save him from this?” “No,” replied the disciple, “I cannot.” “Ah, then,” answered Confucius, “it is useless to say anything more. But, really, do you think that the Spirit of the Great Mountain is not as Lin-fang?” 7. Confucius remarked, “A gentleman never competes in anything he wins he courteously makes his bow before he advances to take his place among the winners; and, when he has lost he walks down and drinks his cup of forfeit. Thus, even in this case of competition, he shows himself to be a gentleman.” 8. A disciple asked Confucius for the meaning of the following verse: Her coquettish smiles, How dimpling they are; Her beautiful eyes, How beaming they are; O fairest is she Who is simple and plain. “In painting,” answered Confucius, “ornamentation and colour are of secondary importance compared with the groundwork.” “Then art itself,” said the disciple, “is a matter of ‘secondary’ consideration?” “My friend,” replied Confucius, “You have given me an idea. Now I can talk of poetry with you.” 9. Confucius remarked to a disciple, “I can tell you of the sate of the arts and civilization during the Hsia dynasty [say the Greek civilisation]; but the modern State of Ts’ I [say modern Greece] cannot furnish sufficient evidence to prove what I say. I can tell you of the state of the arts and civilization during the Yin dynasty [say Roman civilisation]; but the modern state of Sung [say Italy] cannot furnish sufficient evidence to prove what I say. The reason is because the literary monuments extant are too meagre, --otherwise I could prove to you what I say.” 10. Confucius remarked, “At the service of the great Ti sacrifice [the ‘Mass’ in ancient China], I always make it a point to leave as soon as the poruing of the libation on the ground is over.” 11. Somebody asked Confucius for the meaning of the great Ti sacrifice mentioned above. “I do not know,” answered Confucius. “One who understands its significance will find it as easy to rule the world as to look at this—thus:” pointing to the palm of his hand. 12. Confucius worshipped the dead as if he actually felt the presence of the departed ones. He worshipped the Spiritual Powers as if he actually felt the presence of the Powers. He once remarked, “If I cannot give up heart and soul when I am worshipping, I always consider s if I have not worshipped.” 13. An officer in a certain State asked Confucius, saying, “What is meant by the common saying ‘It is better to pray to the God of the Hearth than to the God of the House?’” “Not so,” replied Confucius, “a man who has sinned against God, --it is useless for him to pray anywhere at all.” 14. Confucius remarked, “The civilization of the present Chou dynasty is founded on the civilization of the two preceding dynasties. How splendidly rich it is in all the arts! I prefer the present Chou civilization.” 15. When Confucius first attended the service at the Sate Cathedral (Ancestral Temple of the reigning prince), he enquired as to what he should do at every stage of the service. Somebody thereupon remarked, “Who tells me that the son of the plebeian of Ts’ow is a man who knows the correct forms?” When Confucius heard of the remark, he said, “That is the correct form.” 16. Confucius remarked, “In archery, putting the arrow through the target should not count as points, because the competitors cannot all be expected to be equal in mere physical strength. At least, that was the old rule.” 17. A disciple wanted to dispense with the sheep offered in sacrifice in the religious ceremony held at the beginning of every month. “What you would save,” said Confucius to him, “is the cost of the sheep; what I would save is the principle of the rite.” 18. Confucius remarked, “Men now account it servile to pay to their prince all the honours due to him.” 19. The reigning prince of Confucius’ native State asked Confucius how a prince should treat his public servant and how a public servant should behave to his prince. “Let the prince,” answered Confucius, “treat his public servant with honour. The public servant must serve the prince, his master, with loyalty.” 20. Confucius remarked, “The first ballad in the Book of Ballads and Songs expresses the emotions of love. It is passionate, but not sensual; it is melancholy, but not morbid.” 21. The reigning prince of Confucius’ native State asked a disciple of Confucius about the emblems used on the altars to the Titular Genius of the land. The disciple answered, “The sovereigns of the House of Hsia planted the pine tree; the people of the Yin dynasty adopted the cypress; and the people of the present Chou dynasty has chosen the li (chestnut) tree as a symbol of awe (li) to the population.” When Confucius afterwards heard of what the disciple said, he remarked, “It is useless to speak of a thing that is done; to change a course that is begun; or to blame what is past and gone.” 22. Confucius, speaking of a famous statesman (the Bismarck of the time), remarked, “Kuan Chung was by no means a great-minded man!” “But,” said somebody, “Kuan Chung was simple in his life: was he not?” “Why,” replied Confucius, “Kuan Chung had that magnificent Sansouci Pleasaunce of his. Besides, he had a special officer appointed to every function in his household. How can one say that he was simple in his life?” “Well,” rejoined the enquirer, “but still, Kuan Chung was a man of taste who observed the correct