Verse 26-Analects of Confucius Chapter 14

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Verse 26 of Analects of Confucius Chapter 14

English: Qu Bo Yu⁽¹⁾ send a messenger to Confucius. Confucius asked the messenger to be seated and said:"How is your lord?" The messenger replied:"My lord wish to minimise his mistakes made, but without success." When the messenger left, Confucius commented:"From his messenger, we can see how virtuous his lord is. What a messenger indeed."

Modern: 蘧(qú)伯玉^(一)派人去看望孔子。孔子请使者坐下，然后问他，说：“夫子近来做什么？” 使者答道：“夫子想减少过错，但却不能做到。” 使者离去后，孔子说：“有这样的使者，可见其主人之德。这才是真正的使者。”

Original: 蘧伯玉使人于孔子，孔子与之坐而问焉，曰：“夫子何为？”对曰：“夫子欲寡其过而未能也。” 使者出，子曰：“使乎！使乎！”

Explanation:

Application:

Notes

• (1): An official from the State of Wei(卫).
• (一): 卫国官员。