Verse 4-Analects of Confucius Chapter 5

From World's Chinese Wiki

Verse 4 of Analects of Confucius Chapter 5

English: Someone said:" Yong⁽¹⁾ is benevolent but not an artful speaker." Confucius said:"What need is there for him to be a artful speaker. Being an artful speaker but creating ill will among people will incur other people's detest. If one is not benevolent, of what use is it of being an artful speaker?"

Modern: 有人说：“冉雍^(一)虽有仁德，但不善言辞。” 孔子说：“何必一定得善于言辞呢？善于言辞而在人们间搬弄是非，必然常常惹人讨厌。做人如果不懂得修养仁德，有好口才又有何用？”

Original: 或曰：“雍也仁而不佞。”子曰：“焉用佞？御人以口给，屡憎于人。不知其仁，焉用佞？”

Explanation:

Application:

Notes

• (1): A disciple of Confucius.
• (一): 孔子的学生，姓冉，名雍，字仲弓。