Confucius said, "Benevolence is beauty ①. If you choose heartlessness ②, how can you know ③?"
To annotate ...
1 Benevolence is beautiful: Li, ju, used as a verb. It's good to live in a place with lofty ideals.
② Location: Residence.
3 branches: the same branch.
translate
Confucius said: "It is good to live with kind people. How can you say that you are wise if the residence you choose is not with people with kindness? "
Comment and analysis
Everyone's moral cultivation is not only a personal matter, but also related to the external environment. Paying attention to the living environment and the choice of friends has always been a concern of Confucianism. People who live near Zhu Zhechi and Mexico are black, and people who live with benevolent people will be influenced by benevolent people. On the other hand, it is also impossible to cultivate benevolence.
4.2 original text
Confucius said, "A heartless person can't keep an appointment for a long time and can't enjoy his strengths. Those who are benevolent are benevolent, and those who know are benevolent. "
To annotate ...
About: poverty and embarrassment.
2 An Ren Li Ren: An Ren An Yu Ren; Establish a person and think that benevolence is beneficial to oneself.
translate
Confucius said: "People without benevolence cannot live in poverty or happiness for a long time. The benevolent is content with benevolence, and the wise knows that benevolence is beneficial and does it. "
Comment and analysis
In this chapter, Confucius believes that people without benevolence cannot be in poverty or happiness for a long time, otherwise they will be in trouble or extravagant. Only when the benevolent is content with benevolence can the wise do it. The idea is to hope that people will pay attention to personal ethics, and they will be determined to remain honest under any circumstances.
4.3 original text
Confucius said, "The benevolent can be good and evil."
To annotate ...
(1) Hao: I like it. As a verb.
2 evil (wù): disgust, disgust. As a verb.
translate
Confucius said, "Only those who are kind can love and hate others."
Comment and analysis
When Confucianism talks about "benevolence", it means not only "love" but also "hate people".
Of course, Confucius didn't say who loves and hates here, but there is love and there is hate. The two are opposites. As long as "benevolence" is achieved, there will be correct love and hate.
4.4 original text
Confucius said, "If you are determined to be good, there will be no evil."
translate
Confucius said, "Those who are determined to be kind will not do bad things."
Comment and analysis
This is the content of the next chapter. As long as you cultivate benevolence, you won't do bad things, make trouble, do evil, be arrogant and extravagant, and do whatever you want. Instead, you can do something good for the country and the people. 4.5 original text
Confucius said, "Being rich and expensive is what people want. There is no way to get it, so there is no place." Poverty and meanness are human evils. If you don't get them their way, you won't go. Isn't it good to be famous if a gentleman goes to benevolence? If a gentleman has no final food, he will violate benevolence and will do it again. "
translate
Confucius said: "everyone wants to be rich and famous, but if you don't get it in a proper way, you won't enjoy it;" Poverty and meanness are disgusting to everyone, but we won't get rid of them without proper methods. If a gentleman leaves benevolence, how can he be called a gentleman? A gentleman doesn't have a meal time to deviate from benevolence. Even in the most urgent moment, he will act according to benevolence, and even if he is displaced, he will certainly act according to benevolence. "
Comment and analysis
This passage reflects Confucius' view of reason and desire. In the past study of Confucius, this paragraph was often ignored. It seems that Confucius advocates that people should only be benevolent and not greedy. Actually, it's not. No one wants to live a life of poverty, hardship and displacement, and everyone wants to be rich and comfortable. But this must be obtained through proper means and channels. Otherwise, I would rather be poor than enjoy wealth. This idea still has its value that cannot be underestimated today. This chapter deserves careful scrutiny by researchers.
4.6 original text
Confucius said, "I don't see people being good or evil. Kind people are the best; Those who are evil but not kind, those who are kind, don't impose unkindness on them. Can you work hard on benevolence for a day? I have never seen anyone who is weak. There is a cover, but I didn't see it. "
translate
Confucius said: "I have never seen anyone who loves benevolence, nor have I seen anyone who hates benevolence." People who love benevolence have reached the limit of benevolence and can't add anything; People who hate unkindness will not let unkind people influence them when they practice kindness. Can anyone devote himself wholeheartedly to the practice of benevolence all day? I haven't seen enough strength yet. There may be such people, but I have never seen them. "
Comment and analysis
Confucius particularly emphasized personal moral cultivation, especially the cultivation of benevolence. But in the turbulent society at that time, there were not many people who loved benevolence, so Confucius said that he had never seen it. But Confucius believes that the cultivation of benevolence mainly depends on individual conscious efforts, because as long as individuals work hard, they can completely reach the realm of benevolence.
4.7 Original text
Confucius said: "Everyone's fault lies in his party. After reading it, Si Zhiren. "
translate
Confucius said: "the mistakes made by people are always the same as those made by people in his group." Therefore, by examining the mistakes made by a person, we can know whether he has benevolence. "
Comment and analysis
Confucius believes that people make mistakes because they have no benevolence at all. People with benevolence tend to avoid mistakes, while people without benevolence cannot avoid mistakes, so from this point of view, the nature of mistakes made by people without benevolence is similar. This tells the importance of strengthening moral cultivation from another angle.
4.8 Original text
Confucius said, "Listen in the morning and die at night."
translate
Confucius said, "Be enlightened in the morning and die willingly that night."
Comment and analysis
This passage is often quoted. What exactly does Confucius mean by "Tao" is controversial in academic circles. Our understanding is that the "Tao" mentioned by Confucius here refers to the highest principle of social politics and the highest criterion of being a man, mainly in an ethical sense.
A superficial view
Confucianism is a popular philosophy and an active and outstanding knowledge. Listening to the Tao in the morning and dying at night is practicing for the individual and opposing the Taoist spirit. When you hear the Tao, you will concentrate on your heart, and at night, you will be another person. After listening to the story, I was refreshed and lamented that everything in the past was in vain, and I could die in the past. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Buddhist teachings were China-oriented, which was mostly influenced by Confucianism. If this chapter is inferred from the highest teachings of Buddhism, then the smell is to let it smell. If North Korea lets the people hear this word, they will die at night without regret.
4.9 Original text
Confucius said, "If a scholar is interested in Tao and ashamed of those who can't stand it, it is not enough to just talk about it."
translate
Confucius said: "A scholar who is interested in the truth (a sage who learns while learning) and ashamed of enriching himself from poverty is not worth talking about."
Comment and analysis
This chapter and the previous chapter are all sermons. The meaning of "Tao" in this chapter is roughly the same as that in the previous chapter. Here, Confucius believes that a person who haggles over trifles such as personal food and clothing will not have lofty aspirations, and there is no need to discuss with such people.
4. 10 original
Confucius said: "A gentleman is also in the world, but there is no Mo Ye, and the comparison of righteousness is also."
translate
Confucius said: "A gentleman has no special relationship with the world, and he has no specific preference, but only follows morality." 4. 1 1 original
Confucius said, "A gentleman is fond of virtue, but a villain is fond of soil." : The gentleman is pregnant with punishment 3, and the villain is pregnant with profit. "
To annotate ...
1 pregnant: missing.
② Soil: local soil.
3 punishment: legal punishment.
translate
Confucius said, "A gentleman loses his virtue and a villain loses his hometown; A gentleman thinks of the rule of law, while a villain thinks of kindness. "
Comment and analysis
This chapter once again mentions two different types of personality forms, namely, gentleman and villain. They think that gentlemen are virtuous, they are broad-minded and broad-minded, and they consider the affairs of the country and society, while villains only miss the country and think about small favors, and only consider the livelihood of individuals and families. This is one of the differences between a gentleman and a villain.
A superficial view
The explanation of home has always been similar, saying: a gentleman always thinks of virtue, a villain always thinks of home; A gentleman thinks about ruling the country by punishment, while a villain thinks about small interests. So they all look down on villains and look down on gentlemen. However, after careful reading, the gentleman in this chapter is not what Confucius often said. Confucius has always said that a gentleman returns kindness with courtesy, which is very different from legalism. How to punish this chapter? Moreover, it is human nature to cherish the soil, and Confucianism has no objection. How can it be called a villain? Therefore, the gentleman in the chapter is not a real gentleman, but a superior scholar-bureaucrat; Little people are not real little people, and neither are ordinary people. If the superior is based on morality, the people will feel ashamed and dignified, that is, satisfied with their own hearts and their own homeland; If the superiors always think about severe punishment and harsh laws, the people will be "shameless" and will benefit. Can be used as a political article.
4. 12 original
Confucius said, "If you do it for profit, you will not stop complaining."
To annotate ...
① Release: the same as "imitation", imitation, and extension to pursuit.
2 Resentment: Resentment towards others.
translate
Confucius said: "The pursuit of interests will lead to more resentment."
Comment and analysis
This chapter also talks about justice and benefit. Confucius believes that as a noble gentleman, he will not always consider the gains and losses of personal interests, let alone pursue personal interests wholeheartedly, otherwise it will lead to resentment and accusations from all sides. Let's talk about the concept of justice and benefit here.
4. 13 original
Confucius said, "How can comity serve the country? Why? Can't comity be the country, such as courtesy? "
To annotate ...
(1) What? It means "what's so difficult", which means it's not difficult.
(2) What about the ceremony? What about the ceremony?
translate
Confucius said, "If you can govern the country by courtesy, what is the difficulty?" ? The principle of comity cannot be used to govern the country. How can we practice politeness? "
Comment and analysis
Confucius extended the principle of "courtesy" to the communication between countries, which was beyond reproach in ancient times. Because the "country" in Confucius' era was a "vassal country" and belonged to China's brother country. However, in modern times, Zeng Guofan and others still advocated the principle of "comity for the country" to western colonial countries, and it was inevitable that they would be accused of "betraying the country".
4. 14 original
Confucius said: "There is no place to suffer, but to stand because of suffering; I don't know what I know, but I want to know. "
translate
Confucius said, "I'm not afraid of not having an official position, but I'm afraid I haven't learned anything that holds water." I'm not afraid that no one knows me, but I just want to be a person with real talent and learning who deserves to be known. "
Comment and analysis
This is a question that Confucius often tells himself and his students, and it is his basic attitude towards the world.
Confucius didn't want to become famous and have a family, nor did he want to occupy an important position. Instead, I hope that my students should first base themselves on their own knowledge, cultivation and personnel training, and have all kinds of qualities that are competent for official positions. This idea is desirable.
4. 15 original
Confucius said, "Come on! My path is consistent. " Zeng Zi said, "Wei." When the child came out, the master asked, "What is it?" Ceng Zi said: "The master's way is loyalty and forgiveness."
translate
Confucius said: Zeng Shen! There is a truth running through my sermon. Ceng Zi said: I see, Confucius has come out. Other disciples of Ceng Zi came to ask: What does this mean? Ceng Zi told them that all our teachers said was loyalty and forgiveness. From here on, learning to be perfect is the way.
4. 16 original
Confucius said, "A gentleman is righteous, but a villain is profitable."
translate
Confucius said, "A gentleman knows the righteousness, but a villain only knows the small profits."
Comment and analysis
"Gentleman's righteousness, villain's benefit" is a sentence in Confucius' theory that has great influence on later generations and is recited by people. This obviously raises the question of justice and interests. Confucius believed that profit should obey righteousness, and righteousness should be more important than profit. What he means is to abide by the morality of hierarchical order and blindly pursue personal interests will make mistakes and destroy hierarchical order. Therefore, people who pursue personal interests are regarded as villains. After the development of Confucianism in later generations, this thought has become a sharp opposition between righteousness and benefit, either one or the other.
4. 17 original
Confucius said, "If you don't do it, you will be introspective."
translate
Confucius said, "When you meet a wise man, you should learn from him and follow. When you meet an immoral person, you should reflect on yourself (whether you have made similar mistakes with him). "
Comment and analysis
This chapter is about personal moral cultivation. This is one of the ways to cultivate one's self-cultivation, that is, to meet the sage Si Qi, or to introspect if not. In fact, this is to learn from others' strengths to make up for their own shortcomings, but also to learn from others' mistakes and not to repeat others' old ways. This is a rationalist attitude, which still retains its incisive views today.
4. 18 original
Confucius said, "When parents remonstrate, they don't follow their wishes, but respect them without violating them, and work without complaining."
To annotate ...
① Ji (jρ): slightly euphemistic.
Fatigue: the meaning of sadness and trouble.
translate
Confucius said, "Serve your parents and gently persuade them (if there is anything wrong). (I have expressed my opinion) Seeing that my parents don't want to listen, I still have to respect them, don't disobey them, and don't work for them with resentment. "
Comment and analysis
This paragraph is still about filial piety. It is right to serve parents, but if children are blindly required to obey their parents absolutely, even if parents don't listen to persuasion, children should still be respectful and have no complaints. This became feudal absolutism and an important discipline to maintain the feudal patriarchal clan system. 4. 19 original
Confucius said, "If you don't travel far, you will travel well."
To annotate ...
① Tourism: refers to outing activities such as investigation trip, official trip and business trip.
Party 2: somewhere.
translate
Confucius said, "My parents are alive and not far from home; If you have to go far away, you have to have a certain place. "
Comment and analysis
"Parents are here and don't travel far" is one of the specific contents of the word "filial piety" in Confucian morality in the pre-Qin period. This principle of filial piety has been used throughout the ages to restrain and require children to be filial to their parents. This principle of filial piety still has its significance today.
A superficial view
Parents are still there, that is, when parents are old and sick. At this time, children are filial to their parents, just like raising children. How can they be said to be filial? If you must swim to a distant place, you must let your parents know its direction to solve your lovesickness; If something happens, I can let you know.
Or parents are there, that is, as long as parents are there, children will not be allowed to travel, which makes no sense. In ancient times, it was said that "reading thousands of books and traveling on Wan Li Road" was the right way for scholars to travel more when they were young to increase their knowledge. What can you do if you live with your parents all your life and die in the countryside? It's not Confucianism's idea of joining the WTO. Or today's chapter is unintentional, then I don't know who can say that!
4.20 Original text
Confucius said, "It is filial piety not to change your father's ways for three years."
explain
Confucius said: "If a person does not change the reasonable part of his father for a long time, such a person can be said to have done his filial piety."
4.2 1 original
Confucius said, "You must know your parents' age. One is happy and the other is afraid. "
explain
Confucius said, "Parents' birthdays cannot be ignored. On the one hand, we should be happy; on the other hand, we should be afraid. "
Comment and analysis
I am afraid here because my parents' first birthday means that I have lost one year. I shouldn't dare to think of this layer for my children.
4.22 Original text
Confucius said, "The ancients could not speak and were ashamed to bow."
translate
Confucius said, "The reason why the ancients didn't talk easily was that they were ashamed of their incompetence."
Comment and analysis
Confucius has always advocated caution in words and deeds, not easily making promises and not easily making statements. If you can't do it, you will lose trust and reduce your prestige. Therefore, Confucius said that the ancients did not speak easily, let alone speak freely, because they were ashamed that they could not fulfill their promises. This idea is desirable.
4.23 Original text
Confucius said, "If you keep your word, you will lose something."
To annotate ...
1 About: Constraints. It means "courtesy appointment".
2 fresh: the meaning of less.
translate
Confucius said, "If you use politeness to restrain yourself, you will make fewer mistakes."
4.24 Original text
Confucius said, "A gentleman speaks slowly but acts quickly."
To annotate ...
1 nerd: slow. This means being careful what you say.
2 agility: the meaning of agility and quickness.
translate
Confucius said, "A gentleman is cautious in words, but quick in deeds."
4.25 Original text
Confucius said, "Virtue is not alone, but there must be neighbors."
translate
Confucius said: "A moral person will not be isolated, and there will be people who share his thoughts."
4.26 Original text
Zi You said, "The number of things is 1, and the number of things is 2; The number of friends is scarce. "
To annotate ...
(1) Shu (Shu): Repeated, repetitive, extended to tedious meaning.
② S: Just.
translate
Ziyou said: "If it is too cumbersome to serve the monarch, it will be humiliated; If you are too fussy with your friends, you will be alienated. "