Verse 18-Analects of Confucius Chapter 5
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Verse 18 of Analects of Confucius Chapter 5
English: Zi Zhang asked:"On the three occasions when Zi Wen assumed the post of Ling Yin(1), he showed no signs of joy. On the three occasions when he is dismissed, he show no signs of anger or pertubation. He would always brief the new Ling Yin on the work.What do you say of him?" Confucius replied:"A loyal official indeed." Zi Zhang asked:"Is he benevolent then?" Confucius replied:"I do not know, all I know is, he does his best. Where can we reference that he is benevolent?"
Zi Zhang asked:"When Cui Zi(2) assassinated the Lord of Qi, Chen Wen Zi(2) who had ten war chariots, abandoned from his office and departed. Upon arriving in another state, he said:'The officials are just the same as our Cui Zi.' then he departed. He did the same thing on arriving in another state.What do you say of him?" Confucius replied:"Chen Wen Zi is innocent." Zi Zhang asked:"Is he benevolent then?" Confucius replied:"There is no way we can know. He was able to distance himself from chaos, but I see no behavior that I can reference as benevolent."
Modern: 子张问：“令尹子文三次出任令尹(一) 之职，没有得意的神态；三次被罢免，也没有露出懊恼和愠怒的脸色；必定把自己当令尹时的政事，移交新的令尹，您以为如何？” 孔子答：“这是忠臣的行为。” 子张又问：“那么有认仁德吗？” “不得而知，只是敬忠职守，哪里可称得上仁德？”
子张问：“崔子(二)弑杀齐国君主。陈文子(二)有兵车十辆，但却遗弃他的君主，不战而逃，去到别的国家，说：‘这里的执政者如同我们国家的崔杼。’ 便离去。到另一个国家也是如此。您以为陈文子这个人怎么样？” 孔子答：“陈文子是清白的。” 子张又问：“那么有认仁德吗？” “无从而知，他洁身去乱，是清白的，但是哪里可称得上仁德？”
Original: 子张问曰：“令尹子文三仕为令尹，无喜色；三已之，无愠色。旧令尹之政，必以告新令尹。何如？”子曰：“忠矣。”曰：“仁矣乎？”曰：“未知，焉得仁？”
“崔子弑齐君，陈文子有马十乘，弃而违之。至于他邦，则曰：‘犹吾大夫崔子也。’违之。之一邦，则又曰：‘犹吾大夫崔子也。’违之。何如？” 子曰：“清矣。”曰： “仁矣乎？”曰：“未知，焉得仁？”
Explanation:
Application:
Notes
- (1): Title of high official in State of Chu (楚)
- (2): Official of the State of Qi (齐)
- (一): 楚国官名。
- (二): 齐国官员。