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儒之道—儒家经节选

智-知之道

仁-爱之道-宜人

义-爱之道-宜事

礼-敬之道-敬人

信-敬之道-敬事

儒之道 — The Way of the Confucians

智 · Wisdom — the Way of Knowing

知人知本知止。

Know others, know the root, know where to stop.

知止而后有定，定而后能静，静而后能安，安而后能虑，虑而后能得。

Knowing where to stop, one gains stability; stable, one can be still; still, at peace; at peace, able to deliberate; deliberating, able to attain.

博学而笃志，切问而近思。

Study broadly and hold firm to your purpose; question closely and reflect on what lies near at hand.

学而时习，举一反三，叩其两端而竭。

Learn and practice in season; shown one corner, come back with the other three; tap both ends and exhaust the matter.

不愤不启，不悱不发。

Not opening the way for one who is not eager; Not lifting up one who is not struggling to speak.

无可无不可。

Insisting on nothing, ruling out nothing.

毋意，毋必，毋固，毋我。

No imposed will, no absolutes, no obstinacy, no ego.

少戒色；壮戒斗；老戒得。

In youth, guard against lust; in your prime, against strife; in age, against acquisitiveness.

戒慎乎其所不睹，恐惧乎其所不闻。

Be watchful over what is unseen, wary of what is unheard.

日三省吾身，

Each day I examine myself on three points.

见贤思齐，见不贤而内自省。

Seeing the worthy, aspire to equal them; seeing the unworthy, look within.

内省不疚，过则勿惮改。

When self-examination finds no fault — and when you err, do not shrink from mending it.

求诸己，求在我，求有益于得

Seek it in yourself; seek what lies within your power; seek what furthers attainment.

君子慎独。慎终追远。专心致志。

The noble one is watchful when alone; careful to the end and mindful of the distant; single of mind and bent of will.

人无远虑，必有近忧。

Without thought for the far, trouble is near.

豫则立，不豫则废。

With preparation one stands; without it, one fails.

莫见乎隐，莫显乎微。

Nothing is more visible than the hidden, nothing more manifest than the minute.

不见而章，不动而变，无为而成。

Unseen, yet manifest; unmoving, yet transforming; without acting, yet accomplishing.

仁 · Benevolence — the Way of Love, befitting people

仁者爱人。仁者人心。

The benevolent love others; benevolence is the human heart.

仁者有勇，其言也讱。观过知仁。

The benevolent has courage, and his speech is measured; observe a man’s faults, and you may know his benevolence.

仁者忠恕。君子不器。

The benevolent is loyal and reciprocal; the noble one is not a vessel.

己所不欲，勿施于人。

Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself.

己欲立而立人，己欲达而达人。

Wishing to stand, he helps others stand; wishing to succeed, he helps others succeed.

曲能有诚。心诚求之，虽不中，不远矣。

Even in the small and partial there can be sincerity; seek with a sincere heart, and though you miss, you will not be far.

义 · Righteousness — the Way of Love, befitting affairs

无适无莫，义之与比。

For nothing, against nothing — he sides with what is right.

食无求饱，居无求安，敏於事而慎於言，就有道而正。心安则为。

In food he seeks no fill, in dwelling no ease; earnest in action, careful in speech, he draws near those who have the Way, to be set right — and acts when the heart is at peace.

先行其言而后从之。躬自厚而薄责于人。

First act on your words, then let them follow; demand much of yourself, little of others.

贞而不谅。矜而不争，泰而不骄。周而不比，和而不同，群而不党。

Firm but not blindly rigid; dignified but not contentious; at ease but not arrogant; inclusive but not partisan; harmonious but not conforming; sociable but not factional.

时然后言，乐然后笑，义然后取。先难后获，先事后得。

He speaks only in season, laughs only when glad, takes only what is right; first the hardship, then the gain; first the work, then the reward.

举直错诸枉，能使枉者直。以直报怨，以德报德。

Raise the upright over the crooked, and the crooked are made straight; repay injury with uprightness, and kindness with kindness.

礼 · Ritual Propriety — the Way of Respect, respecting people

君使臣以礼，臣事君以忠。

Let the ruler employ his ministers with propriety, and the ministers serve their ruler with loyalty.

居上不骄，为下不倍。不思出其位。素位而行，无入而不自得。

In high place, not arrogant; in low place, not disloyal; he thinks not beyond his station, but acts within it — and in no situation is he not himself.

温良恭俭让。居处恭，执事敬，与人忠。

Mild, upright, courteous, temperate, deferential; reverent at home, respectful in his work, loyal in his dealings.

帅以正，正己而不求于人。

Lead with rectitude; rectify yourself and make no demands of others.

信 · Trustworthiness — the Way of Respect, respecting affairs

言忠信，行笃敬。敬事而信。

Let your words be loyal and true, your conduct earnest and reverent; be reverent in affairs, and trustworthy.

竭力致身，言而有信。

Give your full strength, offer your whole self, and be true to your word.

为人谋而忠；与朋友交而信；友直，友谅，友多闻。

In planning for others, be loyal; with friends, be true. Befriend the upright, the sincere, and the well-informed.

Simple & Precise Version in English

Wisdom — the Way of Knowing

Benevolence — the Way of Love, befitting people

Righteousness — the Way of Love, befitting affairs

Ritual Propriety — the Way of Respect, respecting people

Trustworthiness — the Way of Respect, respecting affairs