述而篇 第七 第1节
7.1子曰:“述而不作,信而好古⑴,窃比于我老彭⑵。”

【译文】孔子说:“阐述而不创作,以相信的态度喜爱古代文化,我私自和我那老彭相比。”

【英译】The Master said, "A transmitter and not a maker, believing in and loving the ancients, I venture to compare myself with our old Peng."

【注释】
⑴作,好古——下文第二十八章说:“盖有不知而作之者,我无是也。”这个“作”,大概也是“不知而作”的涵义,很难说孔子的学说中没有创造性。又第二十章说:“好古敏以求之”,也可为这个“好古”的证明。 ⑵老彭——人名。有人说是老子和彭祖两人,有人说是殷商时代的彭祖一人,又有人说孔子说“我的老彭”,其人一定和孔子相当亲密,未必是古人。《大戴礼·虞戴德篇》有“商老彭”,不知即此人不。
述而篇 第七 第2节
7.2子曰:“默而识⑴之,学而不厌,诲人不倦,何有于我哉⑵?”

【译文】孔子说:“[把所见所闻的]默默地记在心里,努力学习而不厌弃,教导别人而不疲倦,这些事情我做到了哪些呢?”

【英译】The Master said, "The silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied - which one of these things belongs to me?"

【注释】
⑴识——音志,zhì,记住。 ⑵何有于我哉——“何有”在古代是一常用语,在不同场合表示不同意义。像《诗·邶风·谷风》“何有何亡?黾勉求之”的“何有”便是“有什么”的意思,译文就是用的这一意义。也有人说,《论语》的“何有”都是“不难之辞”,那么,这句话便该译为“这些事情对我有什么困难呢”。这种译法便不是孔子谦虚之词,而和下文第二十八章的“多闻,择其善者而从之,多见而识之”以及“抑为之不厌,诲人不倦”的态度相同了。
述而篇 第七 第3节
7.3子曰:“德之不修,学之不讲,闻义不能徙,不善不能改,是吾忧也。”

【译文】孔子说:“品德不培养;学问不讲习;听到义在那里,却不能亲身赴之;有缺点不能改正,这些都是我的忧虑哩!”

【英译】The Master said, "The learning virtue without proper cultivation; the not thoroughly discussing what is learned; not being able to move towards righteousness of which a knowledge is gained; and not being able to change what is not good - these are the things which occasion me solicitude."

述而篇 第七 第4节
7.4子之燕居,申申⑴如也,夭夭⑵如也。

【译文】孔子在家闲居,很整齐的,很和乐而舒展的。

【英译】When the Master was unoccupied with business, his manner was easy, and he looked pleased.

【注释】
⑴申申——整敕之貌。 ⑵夭夭——和舒之貌。
述而篇 第七 第5节
7.5子曰:“甚矣吾衰也!久矣吾不复梦见周公⑴!”

【译文】孔子说:“我衰老得多么厉害呀!我好长时间没再梦见周公了!”

【英译】The Master said, "Extreme is my decay. For a long time, I have not dreamed, as I was wont to do, that I saw the duke of Zhou."

【注释】
⑴周公——姓姬,名旦,周文王的儿子,武王的弟弟,成王的叔父,鲁国的始祖,又是孔子心目中最敬服的古代圣人之一。
述而篇 第七 第6节
7.6子曰:“志于道,据于德,依于仁,游于艺⑴。”

【译文】孔子说:“目标在『道』,根据在『德』,依靠在『仁』,而游憩于礼、乐、射、御、书、数六艺之中。”

【英译】The Master said, "Let the will be set on the path of duty. Let every attainment in what is good be firmly grasped. Let perfect virtue be accorded with. Let relaxation and enjoyment be found in the polite arts."

【注释】
⑴游于艺——《礼记·学记》曾说:“不兴其艺,不能乐学。故君子之于学也,藏焉,修焉,息焉,游焉。夫然,故安其学而亲其师,乐其友而信其道,是以虽离师辅而不反也。”可以阐明这里的“游于艺”。
述而篇 第七 第7节
7.7子曰:“自行束修⑴以上,吾未尝无诲焉。”

【译文】孔子说:“只要是主动地给我一点见面薄礼,我从没有不教诲的。”

【英译】The Master said, "From the man bringing his bundle of dried flesh for my teaching upwards, I have never refused instruction to any one."

【注释】
⑴束修——修是干肉,又叫脯。每条脯叫一脡(挺),十脡为一束。束修就是十条干肉,古代用来作初次拜见的礼物。但这一礼物是菲薄的。
述而篇 第七 第8节
7.8子曰:“不愤⑴不启,不悱⑵不发⑶。举一隅不以三隅反,则不复也。”

【译文】孔子说:“教导学生,不到他想求明白而不得的时候,不去开导他;不到他想说出来却说不出的时候,不去启发他。教给他东方,他却不能由此推知西、南、北三方,便不再教他了。”

【英译】The Master said, "I do not open up the truth to one who is not eager to get knowledge, nor help out any one who is not anxious to explain himself. When I have presented one corner of a subject to any one, and he cannot from it learn the other three, I do not repeat my lesson."

【注释】
⑴愤——心求通而未得之意。 ⑵悱音斐,fěi,口欲言而未能之貌。 ⑶不启,不发——这是孔子自述其教学方法,必须受教者先发生困难,有求知的动机,然后去启发他。这样,教学效果自然好些。
述而篇 第七 第9节
7.9子食于有丧者之侧,未尝饱也。

【译文】孔子在死了亲属的人旁边吃饭,不曾吃饱过。

【英译】When the Master was eating by the side of a mourner, he never ate to the full.

述而篇 第七 第10节
7.10子于是日哭,则不歌。

【译文】孔子在这一天哭泣过,就不再唱歌。

【英译】On a day when the master had wept, he did not sing.

述而篇 第七 第11节
7.11子谓颜渊曰:“用之则行,舍之则藏,惟我与尔有是夫!”子路曰:“子行三军,则谁与⑴?”子曰:“暴虎冯河⑵,死而无悔者,吾不与也。必也临事而惧,好谋而成者也。”

【译文】孔子对颜渊道:“用我呢,就干起来;不用呢,就藏起来。只有我和你才能这样吧!”子路道:“您若率领军队,找谁共事?”孔子道:“赤手空拳和老虎搏斗,不用船只去渡河,这样死了都不后悔的人,我是不和他共事的。[我所找他共事的,]一定是面临任务便恐惧谨慎,善于谋略而能完成的人哩!”

【英译】The Master said to Yan Yuan, "When called to office, to undertake its duties; when not so called, to lie retired - it is only I and you who have attained to this." Zi Lu said, "If you had the conduct of the armies of a great state, whom would you have to act with you?" The Master said, "He who will unarmed attack a tiger, or cross a river without a boat, dying without any regret, I would not have act with me. My associate must be the man who proceeds to action full of solicitude, who is fond of adjusting his plans, and then carries them into execution."

【注释】
⑴子行三军,则谁与——“行”字古人用得很活,行军犹言行师。《易经·谦卦·上六》云:“利用行师征邑国”,又《复卦·上六》:“用行师终有大败”,行师似有出兵之意。这种活用,一直到中古都如此。如“子夜歌”的“欢行白日心,朝东暮还西。”“与”,动词,偕同的意思。子路好勇,看见孔子夸奖颜渊,便发此问。 ⑵暴虎冯河——冯音凭,píng。徒手搏虎曰暴虎,徒足涉河曰冯河。“冯河”两字最初见于《易·泰卦·爻辞》,又见于《诗·小雅·小旻》。“暴虎”也见于《诗经·郑风·大叔于田》和《小雅·小旻》,可见都是很早就有的俗语。“河”不一定是专指黄河,古代也有用作通名,泛指江河的。
述而篇 第七 第12节
7.12子曰:“富而⑴可求也,虽执鞭之士⑵,吾亦为之。如不可求,从吾所好。”

【译文】孔子说:“财富如果可以求得的话,就是做市场的守门卒我也干。如果求它不到,还是我干我的罢。”

【英译】The Master said, "If the search for riches is sure to be successful, though I should become a groom with whip in hand to get them, I will do so. As the search may not be successful, I will follow after that which I love."

【注释】
⑴而——用法同“如”,假设连词。但是用在句中的多,卽有用在句首的,那句也多半和上一句有密切的关连,独立地用在句首的极少见。 ⑵执鞭之士——根据《周礼》,有两种人拿着皮鞭,一种是古代天子以及诸侯出入之时,有二至八人拿着皮鞭使行路之人让道。一种是市场的守门人,手执皮鞭来维持秩序。这里讲的是求财,市场是财富所聚集之处,因此译为“市场守门卒”。
述而篇 第七 第13节
7.13子之所慎:齐⑴,战,疾⑵。

【译文】孔子所小心慎重的事有三样:斋戒,战争,疾病。

【英译】The things in reference to which the Master exercised the greatest caution were - fasting, war, and sickness.

【注释】
⑴齐——同“斋”。古代于祭祀之前,一定先要做一番身心的整洁工作,这一工作便叫做『斋』或者“斋戒”。乡党篇第十说孔子“斋必变食,居必迁坐”。 ⑵战,疾——上文说到孔子作战必求“临事而惧好谋而成”的人,因为它关系国家的存亡安危;乡党篇又描写孔子病了,不敢随便吃药,因为它关系个人的生死。这都是孔子不能不谨慎的地方。
述而篇 第七 第14节
7.14子在齐闻韶,三月不知肉味,曰:“不图为乐之至于斯也。”

【译文】孔子在齐国听到韶的乐章,很长时间尝不出肉味,于是道:“想不到欣赏音乐竟到了这种境界。”

【英译】When the Master was in Qi, he heard the Shao, and for three months did not know the taste of flesh. He said, "I did not think that music could have been made so excellent as this."

述而篇 第七 第15节
7.15冉有曰:“夫子为⑴卫君⑵乎?”子贡曰:“诺;吾将问之。”入,曰:“伯夷、叔齐何人也?”曰:“古之贤人也。”曰:“怨乎?”曰:“求仁而得仁,又何怨?”出,曰:“夫子不为也。”

【译文】冉有道:“老师赞成卫君吗?”子贡道:“好罢;我去问问他。”子贡进到孔子屋里,道:“伯夷、叔齐是什么样的人?”孔子道:“是古代的贤人。”子贡道:“[他们两人互相推让,都不肯做孤竹国的国君,结果都跑到国外,]是不是后来又怨悔呢?”孔子道:“他们求仁德,便得到了仁德,又怨悔什么呢?”子贡走出,答复冉有道:“老师不赞成卫君。”

【英译】Ran You said, "Is our Master for the ruler of Wei?" Zi Gong said, "Oh! I will ask him." He went in accordingly, and said, "What sort of men were Bo Yi and Shu Qi?" "They were ancient worthies," said the Master. "Did they have any repinings because of their course?" The Master again replied, "They sought to act virtuously, and they did so; what was there for them to repine about?" On this, Zi Gong went out and said, "Our Master is not for him."

【注释】
⑴为——动词,去声,本意是帮助,这里译为“赞成”,似乎更合原意。 ⑵卫君——指卫出公辄。辄是卫灵公之孙,太子蒯聩之子。太子蒯聩得罪了卫灵公的夫人南子,逃在晋国。灵公死,立辄为君。晋国的赵简子又把蒯聩送回,藉以侵略卫国。卫国抵御晋兵,自然也拒绝了蒯聩的回国。从蒯聩和辄是父子关系的一点看来,似乎是两父子争夺卫君的位置,和伯夷、叔齐两兄弟的互相推让,终于都抛弃了君位相比,恰恰成一对照。因之下文子贡引以发问,藉以试探孔子对出公辄的态度。孔子赞美伯夷、叔齐,自然就是不赞成出公辄了。
述而篇 第七 第16节
7.16子曰:“饭疏食⑴饮水⑵,曲肱⑶而枕⑷之,乐亦在其中矣。不义而富且贵,于我如浮云。”

【译文】孔子说:“吃粗粮,喝冷水,弯着胳膊做枕头,也有着乐趣。干不正当的事而得来的富贵,我看来好像浮云。”

【英译】The Master said, "With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow; I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness, are to me as a floating cloud."

【注释】
⑴疏食——有两个解释:(甲)粗粮。古代以稻梁为细粮,以稷为粗粮。见程瑶田《通艺録·九谷考》。(乙)糙米。 ⑵水——古代常以“汤”和“水”对言,“汤”的意义是热水,“水”就是冷水。 ⑶肱——音宫,gōng,胳膊。 ⑷枕——这里用作动词,旧读去声。
述而篇 第七 第17节
7.17子曰:“加我数年,五十以学《易》⑴,可以无大过矣。”

【译文】孔子说:“让我多活几年,到五十岁时候去学习《易经》,便可以没有大过错了。”

【英译】The Master said, "If some years were added to my life, I would give fifty to the study of the Yi, and then I might come to be without great faults."

【注释】
⑴易——古代一部用以占筮的书,其中的卦辞和爻辞是孔子以前的作品。
述而篇 第七 第18节
7.18子所雅言⑴,《诗》、《书》、执礼,皆雅言也。

【译文】孔子有用普通话的时候,读《诗》,读《书》,行礼,都用普通话。

【英译】The Master's frequent themes of discourse were: the Odes, the History, and the maintenance of the Rules of Propriety. On all these he frequently discoursed.

【注释】
⑴雅言——当时中国所通行的语言。春秋时代各国语言不能统一,不但可以想象得到,卽从古书中也可以找到证明。当时较为通行的语言便是“雅言”。
述而篇 第七 第19节
7.19叶公⑴问孔子于子路,子路不对。子曰:“女奚不曰,其为人也,发愤忘食,乐以忘忧,不知老之将至云尔⑵。”

【译文】叶公向子路问孔子为人怎么样,子路不回答。孔子对子路道:“你为什么不这样说:他的为人,用功便忘记吃饭,快乐便忘记忧愁,不晓得衰老会要到来,如此罢了。”

【英译】The Duke of She asked Zi Lu about Confucius, and Zi Lu did not answer him. The Master said, "Why did you not say to him, 'He is simply a man, who in his eager pursuit of knowledge forgets his food, who in the joy of its attainment forgets his sorrows, and who does not perceive that old age is coming on?'"

【注释】
⑴叶——旧音摄,shè,地名,当时属楚,今河南叶县南三十里有古叶城。叶公是叶地方的县长,楚君称王,那县长便称公。此人叫沈诸梁,字子高,《左传》定公、哀公之间有一些关于他的记载,在楚国当时还算是一位贤者。 ⑵云尔——云,如此;尔同“耳”,而已,罢了。
述而篇 第七 第20节
7.20子曰:“我非生而知之者,好古,敏以求之者也。”

【译文】孔子说:“我不是生来就有知识的人,而是爱好古代文化,勤奋敏捷去求得来的人。”

【英译】The Master said, "I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there."

述而篇 第七 第21节
7.21子不语怪,力,乱,神。

【译文】孔子不谈怪异、勇力、叛乱和鬼神。

【英译】The subjects on which the Master did not talk, were: extraordinary things, feats of strength, disorder, and spiritual beings.

述而篇 第七 第22节
7.22子曰:“三人行,必有我师焉:择其善者而从之,其不善者而改之⑴。”

【译文】孔子说:“几个人一块走路,其中便一定有可以为我所取法的人:我选取那些优点而学习,看出那些缺点而改正。”

【英译】 The Master said, "When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them."

【注释】
⑴子曰……改之——子贡说孔子没有特定的老师(见19.22),意思就是随处都有老师,和这章可以以互相证明,老子说:“善人,不善人之师;不善人,善人之资。”未尝不是这个道理。
述而篇 第七 第23节
7.23子曰:“天生德于予,桓魋⑴其如予何⑵?”

【译文】孔子说:“天在我身上生了这样的品德,那桓魋将把我怎样?”

【英译】The Master said, "Heaven produced the virtue that is in me. Huan Tui - what can he do to me?"

【注释】
⑴桓魋——“魋”音颓,tuí。桓魋,宋国的司马向魋,因为是宋桓公的后代,所以又叫桓魋。 ⑵桓魋其如予何——《史记·孔子世家》有一段这样的记载:“孔子去曹,适宋,与弟子习礼大树下。宋司马桓魋欲杀孔子,拔其树。孔子去,弟子曰『可以速矣!』孔子曰:『天生德于予,桓魋其如予何?』”
述而篇 第七 第24节
7.24子曰:“二三子以我为隐乎?吾无隐乎尔。吾无行而不与二三子者,是丘也。”

【译文】孔子说:“你们这些学生以为我有所隐瞒吗?我对你们是没有隐瞒的。我没有一点不向你们公开,这就是我孔丘的为人”

【英译】The Master said, "Do you think, my disciples, that I have any concealments? I conceal nothing from you. There is nothing which I do that is not shown to you, my disciples; that is my way."

述而篇 第七 第25节
7.25子以四教:文,行⑴,忠,信。

【译文】孔子用四种内容教育学生:历代文献,社会生活的实践,对待别人的忠心,与人交际的信实。

【英译】There were four things which the Master taught: letters, ethics, devotion of soul, and truthfulness.

【注释】
⑴行——作名词用,旧读去声。
述而篇 第七 第26节
7.26子曰:“圣人,吾不得而见之矣;得见君子者,斯可矣。”子曰:“善人,吾不得而见之矣;得见有恒⑴者,斯可矣。亡而为有,虚而为盈,约而为泰⑵,难乎有恒矣。”

【译文】孔子说:“圣人,我不能看见了;能看见君子,就可以了。”又说:“善人,我不能看见了,能看见有一定操守的人,就可以了。本来没有,却装做有;本来空虚,却装做充足;本来穷困,却要豪华,这样的人便难于保持一定操守了。”

【英译】The Master said, "A sage it is not mine to see; could I see a man of real talent and virtue, that would satisfy me." The Master said, "A good man it is not mine to see; could I see a man possessed of constancy, that would satisfy me. Having not and yet affecting to have, empty and yet affecting to be full, straitened and yet affecting to be at ease - it is difficult with such characteristics to have constancy."

【注释】
⑴有恒——这个“恒”字和《孟子·梁惠王上》的“无恒产而有恒心”的“恒”是一个意义。 ⑵泰——这“泰”字和《国语·晋语》的“恃其富宠,以泰于国”,《荀子·议兵篇》的“用财欲泰”的“泰”同义,用度豪华而不吝惜的意思。
述而篇 第七 第27节
7.27子钓而不纲⑴,弋⑵不射宿⑶。

【译文】孔子钓鱼,不用大绳横断流水来取鱼;用带生丝的箭射鸟,不射归巢的鸟。

【英译】The Master angled, but did not use a net. He shot, but not at birds perching.

【注释】
⑴纲——网上的大绳叫纲,用它来横断水流,再用生丝系钓,着于纲上来取鱼,这也叫纲。“不纲”的“纲”是动词。 ⑵弋——音亦,yì,用带生丝的矢来射。⑶宿——歇宿了的鸟。
述而篇 第七 第28节
7.28子曰:“盖有不知而作之者,我无是也。多闻,择其善者而从之;多见而识之;知之次也⑴。”

【译文】孔子说:“大概有一种自己不懂却凭空造作的人,我没有这种毛病。多多地听,选择其中好的加以接受;多多地看,全记在心里。这样的知,是仅次于『生而知之』的。”

【英译】The Master said, "There may be those who act without knowing why. I do not do so. Hearing much and selecting what is good and following it; seeing much and keeping it in memory - this is the second style of knowledge."

【注释】
⑴次——《论语》的“次”一共享了八次,都是当“差一等”、“次一等”讲。季氏篇云:“孔子曰:『生而知之者,上也;学而知之者,次也。』”这里的“知之次也”正是“学而知之者,次也”的意思。孔子自己也说他是学而知之(好古敏以求之)的人,所以译文加了几个字。
述而篇 第七 第29节
7.29互乡⑴难与言,童子见,门人惑。子曰:“与其进也,不与其退也,唯何甚?人洁己以进,与其洁也,不保⑵其往也。”

【译文】互乡这地方的人难于交谈,一个童子得到孔子的接见,弟子们疑惑。孔子道:“我们赞成他的进步,不赞成他的退步,何必做得太过?别人把自己弄得干干净净而来,便应当赞成他的干净,不要死记住他那过去。”

【英译】It was difficult to talk (profitably and reputably) with the people of Hu Xiang, and a lad of that place having had an interview with the Master, the disciples doubted. The Master said, "I admit people's approach to me without committing myself as to what they may do when they have retired. Why must one be so severe? If a man purify himself to wait upon me, I receive him so purified, without guaranteeing his past conduct."

【注释】
⑴互乡——地名,现在已不详其所在。 ⑵保——守也,所以译为“死记住”。
述而篇 第七 第30节
7.30子曰:“仁远乎哉?我欲仁,斯仁至矣。”

【译文】孔子道:“仁德难道离我们很远吗?我要它,它就来了。”

【英译】The Master said, "Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! virtue is at hand."

述而篇 第七 第31节
7.31陈司败⑴问昭公⑵知礼乎,孔子曰:“知礼。”孔子退,揖巫马期⑶而进之,曰:“吾闻君子不党,君子亦党乎?君取于吴⑷,为同姓⑸,谓之吴孟子⑹。君而知礼,孰不知礼?”巫马期以告。子曰:“丘也幸,苟有过⑺,人必知之。”

【译文】陈司败向孔子问鲁昭公懂不懂礼,孔子道:“懂礼。” 孔子走了出来,陈司败便向巫马期作了个揖。请他走近自己,然后说道:“我听说君子无所偏袒,难道孔子竟偏袒吗?鲁君从吴国娶了位夫人,吴和鲁是同姓国家,[不便叫她做吴姬,]于是叫她做吴孟子。鲁君若是懂得礼,谁不懂得礼呢?”巫马期把这话转告给孔子。孔子道:“我真幸运,假若有错误,人家一定给指出来,”

【英译】The minister of crime of Chen asked whether the duke Zhao knew propriety, and Confucius said, "He knew propriety." Confucius having retired, the minister bowed to Wu Ma Qi to come forward, and said, "I have heard that the superior man is not a partisan. May the superior man be a partisan also? The prince married a daughter of the house of Wu, of the same surname with himself, and called her, 'The elder Zi of Wu.' If the prince knew propriety, who does not know it?" Wu Ma Qi reported these remarks, and the Master said, "I am fortunate! If I have any errors, people are sure to know them."

【注释】
⑴陈司败——人名。有人说“司败”是官名,也有人说是人名,究竟是什么样的人,今天已经无法知道。 ⑵昭公——鲁昭公,名裯,襄公庶子,继襄公而为君。“昭”是谥号,陈司败之问若在昭公死后,则“昭公知礼乎”可能是原来语言。如果他这次发问尚在昭公生时,那“昭公”字眼当是后人的记述。我们已无从判断,所以这句不加引号。 ⑶巫马期——孔子学生,姓巫马,名施,字子期,小于孔子三十岁。 ⑷君取于吴——“取”这里用作“娶”字。吴,当时的国名,拥有今天淮水、泗水以南以及浙江的嘉兴、湖州等地。哀公时,为越王勾践所灭。 ⑸为同姓——鲁为周公之后,姬姓;吴为太伯之后,也是姬姓。 ⑹吴孟子——春秋时代,国君夫人的称号一般是所生长之国名加她的本姓。鲁娶于吴,这位夫人便应该称为吴姬。但“同姓不婚”是周朝的礼法,鲁君夫人的称号而把“姬”字标明出来,便是很显明地表示出鲁君的违背了“同姓不婚”的礼制,因之改称为“吴孟子”。“孟子”可能是这位夫人的字。《左传》哀公十二年亦书曰:“昭夫人孟子卒”。 ⑺苟有过——根据《荀子·子道篇》关于孔子的另一段故事,和《史记·仲尼弟子列传》对这一事“臣不可言君亲之恶,为讳者礼也”的解释,则孔子对鲁昭公所谓不合礼的行为不是不知,而是不说,最后只得归过于自己。
述而篇 第七 第32节
7.32子与人歌而善,必使反之,而后和之。

【译文】孔子同别人一道唱歌,如果唱得好,一定请他再唱一遍,然后自己又和他。

【英译】When the Master was in company with a person who was singing, if he sang well, he would make him repeat the song, while he accompanied it with his own voice.

述而篇 第七 第33节
7.33子曰:“文,莫⑴吾犹人也。躬行君子,则吾未之有得。”

【译文】孔子说:“书本上的学问,大约我同别人差不多。在生活实践中做一个君子,那我还没有成功。”

【英译】The Master said, "In letters I am perhaps equal to other men, but the character of the superior man, carrying out in his conduct what he professes, is what I have not yet attained to."

【注释】
⑴文莫——以前人都把“文莫”两字连读,看成一个双音词,但又不能得出恰当的解释。吴检斋(承仕)先生在〈亡莫无虑同词说〉(载于前北京中国大学《国学丛编》第一期第一册)中以为“文”是一词,指孔子所谓的“文章”,“莫”是一词,“大约”的意思。关于“莫”字的说法在先秦古籍中虽然缺乏坚强的论证,但解释本文却比所有各家来得较为满意,因之为译者所采用。朱熹《集注》亦云,“莫,疑辞”,或为吴说所本。
述而篇 第七 第34节
7.34子曰:“若圣⑴与仁,则吾岂敢?抑为之不厌,诲人不倦,则可谓云尔已矣。”公西华曰:“正唯弟子不能学也。”

【译文】孔子说道:“讲到圣和仁,我怎么敢当?不过是学习和工作总不厌倦,教导别人总不疲劳,就是如此如此罢了。”公西华道:“这正是我们学不到的。”

【英译】The Master said, "The sage and the man of perfect virtue - how dare I rank myself with them? That I strive to become such without satiety, and teach others without weariness - this much can be said of me." Gong Xi Hua said, "This is just what we, the disciples, cannot imitate you in."

【注释】
⑴圣——《孟子·公孙丑上》载子贡对这事的看法说:“学不厌,智也;教不倦,仁也。仁且智,夫子既圣矣。”可见当时的学生就已把孔子看成圣人。
述而篇 第七 第35节
7.35子疾病⑴,子路请祷。子曰:“有诸?”子路对曰:“有之;〈诔〉⑵曰:『祷尔于上下神祇⑶。』”子曰:“丘之祷久矣。”

【译文】孔子病重,子路请求祈祷。孔子道:“有这回事吗?”子路答道:“有的;〈诔文〉说过:『替你向天神地祇祈祷。』”孔子道:“我早就祈祷过了。”

【英译】The Master being very sick, Zi Lu asked leave to pray for him. He said, "May such a thing be done?" Zi Lu replied, "It may. In the Eulogies it is said, 'Prayer has been made for thee to the spirits of the upper and lower worlds.'" The Master said, "My praying has been for a long time."

【注释】
⑴疾病——“疾病”连言,是重病。 ⑵诔——音耒,lèi,本应作讄,祈祷文。和哀悼死者的“诔”不同。⑶祇——音祁,qí,地神。
述而篇 第七 第36节
7.36子曰:“奢则不孙⑴,俭则固⑵。与其不孙也,宁固。”

【译文】孔子说:“奢侈豪华就显得骄傲,省俭朴素就显得寒伧。与其骄傲,宁可寒伧。”

【英译】The Master said, "Extravagance leads to insubordination, and parsimony to meanness. It is better to be mean than to be insubordinate."

【注释】
⑴孙——同“逊”。 ⑵固——固陋,寒伧。
述而篇 第七 第37节
7.37子曰:“君子坦荡荡,小人长戚戚。”

【译文】孔子说:“君子心地平坦宽广,小人却经常局促忧愁。”

【英译】The Master said, "The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress."

述而篇 第七 第38节
7.38子温而厉,威而不猛,恭而安。

【译文】孔子温和而严厉,有威仪而不凶猛,庄严而安详。

【英译】The Master was mild, and yet dignified; majestic, and yet not fierce; respectful, and yet easy.

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