阳货篇 第十七

17.1阳货⑴欲见孔子，孔子不见，归孔子豚⑵。孔子时其亡也，而往拜之。遇诸涂。谓孔子曰：“来！予与尔言。”曰⑶：“怀其宝而迷其邦，可谓仁乎？”曰：“不可。——好从事而亟⑷失时，可谓知乎？”曰：“不可。——日月逝矣，岁不我与。”孔子曰：“诺；吾将仕矣⑸。”

【译文】阳货想要孔子来拜会他，孔子不去，他便送孔子一个［蒸熟了的］小猪，［使孔子到他家来道谢。］孔子探听他不在家的时候，去拜谢。两人在路上碰着了。他叫着孔子道：“来，我同你说话。”［孔子走了过去。］他又道：“自己有一身的本领，却听任着国家的事情糊里胡涂，可以叫做仁爱吗？”［孔子没吭声。］他便自己接口道：“不可以；——一个人喜欢做官，却屡屡错过机会，可以叫做聪明吗？”［孔子仍然没吭声。］他又自己接口道：“不可以；——时光一去，就不再回来了呀。”孔子这才说道：“好吧；我打算做官了。”

【英译】Yang Huo wished to see Confucius, but Confucius would not go to see him. On this, he sent a present of a pig to Confucius, who, having chosen a time when Huo was not at home, went to pay his respects for the gift. He met him, however, on the way. Huo said to Confucius, "Come, let me speak with you." He then asked, "Can he be called benevolent who keeps his jewel in his bosom, and leaves his country to confusion?" Confucius replied, "No." "Can he be called wise, who is anxious to be engaged in public employment, and yet is constantly losing the opportunity of being so?" Confucius again said, "No." "The days and months are passing away; the years do not wait for us." Confucius said, "Right; I will go into office."

17.2子曰：“性相近也，习相远也。”

【译文】孔子说：“人性情本相近，因为习染不同，便相距悬远。”

【英译】The Master said, "By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart."

17.3子曰：“唯上知与下愚⑴不移。”

【译文】孔子说：“只有上等的智者和下等的愚人是改变不了的。”

【英译】The Master said, "There are only the wise of the highest class, and the stupid of the lowest class, who cannot be changed."

17.4子之武城，闻弦歌之声。夫子莞尔而笑，曰：“割鸡焉用牛刀？”子游对曰：“昔者偃也闻诸夫子曰：『君子学道则爱人，小人学道则易使也。』”子曰：“二三子！偃之言是也。前言戏之耳。”

【译文】孔子到了［子游作县长］的武城，听到了弹琴瑟唱诗歌的声音。孔子微微笑着，说道：“宰鸡，何必用宰牛的刀？［治理这个小地方，用得着教育吗？］”子游答道：“以前我听老师说过，做官的学习了，就会有仁爱之心；老百姓学习了，就容易听指挥，听使唤。［教育总是有用的。］”孔子便向学生们道：“二三子！言偃的这话是正确的。我刚才那句话不过同他开顽笑吧了。”

【英译】The Master, having come to Wu Cheng, heard there the sound of stringed instruments and singing. Well pleased and smiling, he said, "Why use an ox knife to kill a fowl?" Zi You replied, "Formerly, Master, I heard you say, 'When the man of high station is well instructed, he loves men; when the man of low station is well instructed, he is easily ruled.'" The Master said, "My disciples, Yan's words are right. What I said was only in sport."

17.5公山弗扰⑴以费畔⑵，召，子欲往。子路不说，曰：“末之也，已⑶，何必公山氏之之⑷也？”子曰：“夫召我者，而岂徒哉⑸？如有用我者，吾其为东周乎？”

【译文】公山弗扰盘踞在费邑图谋造反，叫孔子去，孔子准备去。子路很不高兴，说道：“没有地方去便算了，为什么一定要去公山氏那里呢？”孔子道：“那个叫我去的人，难道是白白召我吗？假若有人用我，我将使周文王武王之道在东方复兴。”

【英译】Gong Shan Fo Rao, when he was holding Fei, and in an attitude of rebellion, invited the Master to visit him, who was rather inclined to go. Zi Lu was displeased, and said, "Indeed, you cannot go! Why must you think of going to see Gong Shan?" The Master said, "Can it be without some reason that he has invited me? If any one employ me, may I not make an eastern Zhou?"

17.6子张问仁于孔子。孔子曰：“能行五者于天下为仁矣。”“请问之。”曰：“恭，宽，信，敏，惠。恭则不侮，宽则得众，信则人任焉，敏则有功，惠则足以使人。”

【译文】子张向孔子问仁。孔子道：“能够处处实行五种品德，便是仁人了。”子张道：“请问哪五种。”孔子道：“庄重，宽厚，诚实，勤敏，慈惠。庄重就不致遭受侮辱，宽厚就会得到大众的拥护，诚实就会得到别人的任用，勤敏就会工作效率高、贡献大，慈惠就能够使唤人。”

【英译】Zi Zhang asked Confucius about perfect virtue. Confucius said, "To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue." He begged to ask what they were, and was told, "Gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. If you are grave, you will not be treated with disrespect. If you are generous, you will win all. If you are sincere, people will repose trust in you. If you are earnest, you will accomplish much. If you are kind, this will enable you to employ the services of others."

17.7佛肸⑴召，子欲往。子路曰：“昔者由也闻诸夫子曰：『亲于其身为不善者，君子不入也。』佛肸以中牟⑵畔，子之往也，如之何？”子曰：“然，有是言也。不曰坚乎，磨而不磷⑶；不曰白乎，湼⑷而不缁。吾岂匏瓜⑸也哉？焉能系而不食？”

【译文】佛肸叫孔子，孔子打算去。子路道：“从前我听老师说过，『亲自做坏事的人那里，君子不去的。』如今佛肸盘踞中牟谋反，您却要去，怎么说得过去呢？”孔子道：“对，我有过这话。但是，你不知道吗？最坚固的东西，磨也磨不薄；最白的东西，染也染不黑。我难道是匏瓜吗？哪里能够只是被悬挂着而不给人吃食呢？”

【英译】Bi Xi inviting him to visit him, the Master was inclined to go. Zi Lu said, "Master, formerly I have heard you say, 'When a man in his own person is guilty of doing evil, a superior man will not associate with him.' Bi Xi is in rebellion, holding possession of Zhong Mou; if you go to him, what shall be said?" The Master said, "Yes, I did use these words. But is it not said, that, if a thing be really hard, it may be ground without being made thin? Is it not said, that, if a thing be really white, it may be steeped in a dark fluid without being made black? Am I a bitter gourd? How can I be hung up out of the way of being eaten?"

17.8子曰：“由也！女闻六言⑴六蔽矣乎？”对曰：“未也。”“居！吾语女。好仁不好学⑵，其蔽也愚⑶；好知不好学，其蔽也荡⑷；好信不好学，其蔽也贼⑸；好直不好学，共蔽也绞；好勇不好学，其蔽也乱；好刚不好学，其蔽也狂。”

【译文】孔子说：“仲由，你听过有六种品德便会有六种弊病吗？”子路答道：“没有。”孔子道：“坐下！我告诉你。爱仁德，却不爱学问，那种弊病就是容易被人愚弄；爱耍聪明，却不爱学问，那种弊病就是放荡而无基础；爱诚实，却不爱学问，那种弊病就是［容易被人利用，反而］害了自己；爱直率，却不爱学问，那种弊病就是说话尖刻，刺痛人心；爱勇敢，却不爱学问，那种弊病就是捣乱闯祸；爱刚强，却不爱学问，那种弊病就是胆大妄为。”

【英译】The Master said, "You, have you heard the six words to which are attached six becloudings?" You replied, "I have not." "Sit down, and I will tell them to you. There is the love of being benevolent without the love of learning - the beclouding here leads to a foolish simplicity. There is the love of knowing without the love of learning - the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind. There is the love of being sincere without the love of learning - the beclouding here leads to an injurious disregard of consequences. There is the love of straightforwardness without the love of learning - the beclouding here leads to rudeness. There is the love of boldness without the love of learning - the beclouding here leads to insubordination. There is the love of firmness without the love of learning - the beclouding here leads to extravagant conduct."

17.9子曰：“小子何莫学夫诗？诗，可以兴，可以观，可以羣，可以怨。迩之事父，远之事君；多识于鸟兽草木之名。”

【译文】孔子说：“学生们为什么没有人研究诗？读诗，可以培养联想力，可以提高观察力，可以锻炼合羣性，可以学得讽刺方法。近呢，可以运用其中道理来事奉父母；远呢，可以用来服事君上；而且多多认识鸟兽草木的名称。”

【英译】The Master said, "My children, why do you not study the Book of Poetry? The Odes serve to stimulate the mind. They may be used for purposes of self-contemplation. They teach the art of sociability. They show how to regulate feelings of resentment. From them you learn the more immediate duty of serving one's father, and the remoter one of serving one's prince. From them we become largely acquainted with the names of birds, beasts, and plants."

17.10子谓伯鱼曰：“女为《周南》、《召南》⑴矣乎？人而不为《周南》、《召南》，其犹正墙面而立⑵也与？”

【译文】孔子对伯鱼说道：“你研究过《周南》和《召南》了吗？人假若不研究《周南》和《召南》，那会像面正对着墙壁而站着罢！”

【英译】The Master said to Bo Yu, "Do you give yourself to the Zhou Nan and the Shao Nan. The man who has not studied the Zhou Nan and the Shao Nan is like one who stands with his face right against a wall. Is he not so?"

17.11子曰：“礼云礼云，玉帛云乎哉？乐云乐云，钟鼓云乎哉？”

【译文】孔子说：“礼呀礼呀，仅是指玉帛等等礼物而说的吗？乐呀乐呀，仅是指钟鼓等等乐器而说的吗？”

【英译】The Master said, "'It is according to the rules of propriety,' they say. 'It is according to the rules of propriety,' they say. Are gems and silk all that is meant by propriety? 'It is music,' they say. 'It is music,' they say. Are bells and drums all that is meant by music?"

17.12子曰：“色厉而内荏，譬诸小人，其犹穿窬之盗也与？”

【译文】孔子说：“颜色严厉，内心怯弱，若用坏人作比喻，怕像个挖洞跳墙的小偷罢！”

【英译】The Master said, "He who puts on an appearance of stern firmness, while inwardly he is weak, is like one of the small, mean people - yea, is he not like the thief who breaks through, or climbs over, a wall?"

17.13子曰：“乡愿⑴，德之贼也。”

【译文】孔子说：“没有真是非的好好先生是足以败坏道德的小人。”

【英译】The Master said, "Your good, careful people of the villages are the thieves of virtue."

17.14子曰：“道听而涂说，德之弃也。”

【译文】孔子说：“听到道路传言就四处传播，这是应该革除的作风。”

【英译】The Master said, "To tell, as we go along, what we have heard on the way, is to cast away our virtue."

17.15子曰：“鄙夫可与⑴事君也与哉？其未得之也，患得之当作患不得之⑵。既得之，患失之。苟患失之，无所不至矣。”

【译文】孔子说：“鄙夫，难道能同他共事吗？当他没有得到职位的时候，生怕得不着；已经得着了，又怕失去。假若生怕失去，会无所不用其极了。”

【英译】The Master said, "There are those mean creatures! How impossible it is along with them to serve one's prince! While they have not got their aims, their anxiety is how to get them. When they have got them, their anxiety is lest they should lose them. When they are anxious lest such things should be lost, there is nothing to which they will not proceed."

17.16子曰：“古者民有三疾，今也或是之亡也。古之狂也肆，今之狂也荡；古之矜也廉⑴，今之矜也忿戾；古之愚也直，今之愚也诈而已矣。”

【译文】孔子说：“古代的人民还有三种［可贵的］毛病，现在呢，或许都没有了。古代的狂人肆意直言，现在的狂人便放荡无羁了；古代自己矜持的人还有些不能触犯的地方，现在自己矜持的人却只是一味老羞成怒，无理取闹罢了；古代的愚人还直率，现在的愚人却只是欺诈耍手段罢了。”

【英译】The Master said, "Anciently, men had three failings, which now perhaps are not to be found. The high-mindedness of antiquity showed itself in a disregard of small things; the high-mindedness of the present day shows itself in wild license. The stern dignity of antiquity showed itself in grave reserve; the stern dignity of the present day shows itself in quarrelsome perverseness. The stupidity of antiquity showed itself in straightforwardness; the stupidity of the present day shows itself in sheer deceit."

17.17子曰：“巧言令色，鲜矣仁⑴。”

【英译】The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with virtue."

17.18子曰：“恶紫之夺朱⑴也，恶郑声之乱雅乐也，恶利口之覆邦家者。”

【译文】孔子说：“紫色夺去了大红色的光彩和地位，可憎恶；郑国的乐曲破坏了典雅的乐曲，可憎恶；强嘴利舌颠覆国家，可憎恶。”

【英译】The Master said, "I hate the manner in which purple takes away the luster of vermilion. I hate the way in which the songs of Zheng confound the music of the Ya. I hate those who with their sharp mouths overthrow kingdoms and families."

17.19子曰：“予欲无言。”子贡曰：“子如不言，则小子何述焉？”子曰：“天何言哉？四时行焉，百物生焉，天何言哉？”

【译文】孔子说：“我想不说话了。”子贡道：“您假若不说话，那我们传述什么呢？”孔子道：“天说了什么呢？四季照样运行，百物照样生长，天说了什么呢？

【英译】The Master said, "I would prefer not speaking." Zi Gong said, "If you, Master, do not speak, what shall we, your disciples, have to record?" The Master said, "Does Heaven speak? The four seasons pursue their courses, and all things are continually being produced, but does Heaven say anything?"

17.20孺悲⑴欲见孔子，孔子辞以疾⑵。将命者出户，取瑟而歌，使之闻之。

【译文】孺悲来，要会晤孔子，孔子托言有病，拒绝接待。传命的人刚出房门，孔子便把瑟拿下来弹，并且唱着歌，故意使孺悲听到。

【英译】Ru Bei wished to see Confucius, but Confucius declined, on the ground of being sick, to see him. When the bearer of this message went out at the door, (the Master) took his lute and sang to it, in order that Bei might hear him.

17.21宰我问：“三年之丧，期已久矣。君子三年不为礼，礼必坏；三年不为乐，乐必崩。旧谷既没，新谷既升，钻燧改火⑴，期⑵可已矣。”子曰：“食夫稻⑶，衣夫锦，于女安乎？”曰：“安。”“女安，则为之！。夫君子之居丧，食旨不甘，闻乐不乐，居处不安⑷，故不为也。今女安，则为之！”宰我出，子曰：“予之不仁也！子生三年，然后免于父母之怀。夫三年之丧，天下之通丧也，予也有三年之爱于其父母乎！”

【译文】宰我间道：“父母死了，守孝三年，为期也太久了。君子有三年不去习礼仪，礼仪一定会废弃掉；三年不去奏音乐，音乐一定会失传。陈谷既已吃完了，新谷又已登场；打火用的燧木又经过了一个轮回，一年也就可以了。”孔子道：“［父母死了，不到三年，］你便吃那个白米饭，穿那个花缎衣，你心里安不安呢？”宰我道：“安。”孔子便抢着道：“你安，你就去干吧，君子的守孝，吃美味不晓得甜，听音乐不觉得快乐，住在家里不以为舒适，才不这样干。如今你既然觉得心安，便去干好了。”宰我退了出来。孔子道：“宰予真不仁呀，儿女生下地来，三年以后才能完全脱离父母的怀抱。替父母守孝三年，天下都是如此的。宰予难道就没有从他父母那里得着三年怀抱的爱护吗？”

【英译】Zai Wo asked about the three years' mourning for parents, saying that one year was long enough. "If the superior man abstains for three years from the observances of propriety, those observances will be quite lost. If for three years he abstains from music, music will be ruined. Within a year the old grain is exhausted, and the new grain has sprung up, and, in procuring fire by friction, we go through all the changes of wood for that purpose. After a complete year, the mourning may stop." The Master said, "If you were, after a year, to eat good rice, and wear embroidered clothes, would you feel at ease?" "I should," replied Wo. The Master said, "If you can feel at ease, do it. But a superior man, during the whole period of mourning, does not enjoy pleasant food which he may eat, nor derive pleasure from music which he may hear. He also does not feel at ease, if he is comfortably lodged. Therefore he does not do what you propose. But now you feel at ease and may do it." Zai Wo then went out, and the Master said, "This shows Yu's want of virtue. It is not till a child is three years old that it is allowed to leave the arms of its parents. And the three years' mourning is universally observed throughout the empire. Did Yu enjoy the three years' love of his parents?"

17.22子曰：“饱食终日，无所用心，难矣哉！不有博⑴弈者乎？为之，犹贤乎已⑵。”

【译文】孔子说：“整天吃饱了饭，什么事也不做，不行的呀！不是有掷采下弈的游戏吗？干干也比闲着好。”

【英译】The Master said, "Hard is it to deal with who will stuff himself with food the whole day, without applying his mind to anything good! Are there not gamesters and chess players? To be one of these would still be better than doing nothing at all."

17.23子路曰：“君子尚⑴勇乎？”子曰：“君子义以为上⑴，君子有勇而无义为乱，小人有勇而无义为盗。”

【译文】子路问道：“君子尊贵勇敢不？”孔子道：“君子认为义是最可尊贵的，君子只有勇，没有义，就会捣乱造反；小人只有勇，没有义，就会做土匪强盗。”

【英译】Zi Lu said, "Does the superior man esteem valor?" The Master said, "The superior man holds righteousness to be of highest importance. A man in a superior situation, having valor without righteousness, will be guilty of insubordination; one of the lower people having valor without righteousness, will commit robbery."

17.24子贡曰：“君子亦有恶乎？”子曰：“有恶：恶称人之恶者，恶居下流（流字衍文）⑴而讪上者，恶勇而无礼者，恶果敢而窒者。”曰：“赐也亦有恶乎？”“恶徼以为知者，恶不孙以为勇者，恶讦以为直者。”

【译文】子贡道：“君子也有憎恨的事吗？”孔子道：“有憎恨的事：憎恨一味传播别人的坏处的人，憎恨在下位而毁谤上级的人，憎恨勇敢却不懂礼节的人，憎恨勇于贯彻自己的主张，却顽固不通、执抝到底的人。”孔子又道：“赐，你也有憎恶的事吗？”子贡随卽答道：“我憎恨偷袭别人的成绩却作为自己的聪明的人，憎恨毫不谦虚却自以为勇敢的人，憎恨揭发别人阴私却自以为直率的人。”

【英译】Zi Gong said, "Has the superior man his hatreds also?" The Master said, "He has his hatreds. He hates those who proclaim the evil of others. He hates the man who, being in a low station, slanders his superiors. He hates those who have valor merely, and are unobservant of propriety. He hates those who are forward and determined, and, at the same time, of contracted understanding." The Master then inquired, "Ci, have you also your hatreds?" Zi Gong replied, "I hate those who pry out matters, and ascribe the knowledge to their wisdom. I hate those who are only not modest, and think that they are valorous. I hate those who make known secrets, and think that they are straightforward."

17.25子曰：“唯女子与小人为难养也，近之则不孙，远之则怨。”

【译文】孔子道：“只有女子和小人是难得同他们共处的，亲近了，他会无礼；疏远了，他会怨恨。”

【英译】The Master said, "Of all people, girls and servants are the most difficult to behave to. If you are familiar with them, they lose their humility. If you maintain a reserve towards them, they are discontented."

17.26子曰：“年四十而见恶焉，其终也已⑴。”

【译文】孔子说：“到了四十岁还被厌恶，他这一生也就完了。”

【英译】The Master said, "When a man at forty is the object of dislike, he will always continue what he is."