Verse 14-Analects of Confucius Chapter 14

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Verse 14 of Analects of Confucius Chapter 14

English: Confucius asked Gong Ming Jia⁽¹⁾ about Gong Shu Wen Zi⁽²⁾. Confucius said:" Is it true that he does not speak, smile and take anything that does not belogn to him?" Gong Ming Jia said:"Those who say so have exaggerated. He speaks when it is timely, thus people do not resent what he says. He smiles when he is genuinely happy, thus people do not resent his smiling. He takes only when it is right, thus people do not resent his takings." Confucius said:"Is that indeed how he was?"

Modern: 孔子向公明贾^(一)问公叔文子^(二)的为人。孔子说：“确实是这样的吗？他轻易不说什么、喜怒不形于色、不拿取不属于自己的东西？” 公明贾答道：“这是告诉你的人说话过头了。他这个人总是到应该说话的时候才说话，别人不厌恶他的话。发乎内心的高兴然后喜笑颜开，别人就不讨厌他的笑容。所取必然合乎道义才拿取，别人自然就不嫉恨他拿取。” 孔子说：“这样呀，难道真的是这样吗？”

Original: 子问公叔文子于公明贾曰：“信乎，夫子不言，不笑，不取乎？” 公明贾对曰：“以告者过也。夫子时然后言，人不厌其言；乐然后笑，人不厌其笑；义然后取，人不厌其取。” 子曰：“其然？岂其然乎？”

Explanation:

Application:

Notes

• (1): Someone from the State of Wei (卫)
• (2): Official from the State of Wei (卫)
• (一): 卫国人。
• (二): 卫国官员。