The Master discusses with his disciples and unveil his preoccupations with society. Tr. Legge (en), Lau (en) and Couvreur (fr).
Caution in speaking a characteristic of perfect virtue:– a conversation with Tsze-niû.
1. Sze-mâ Niû asked about perfect virtue.
2. The Master said, "The man of perfect virtue is cautious and slow in his speech."
3. "Cautious and slow in his speech!" said Niu;– "is this what is meant by perfect virtue?" The Master said, "When a man feels the difficulty of doing, can he be other than cautious and slow in speaking?"
Legge XII.3.
Ssu-ma Niu asked about benevolence. The Master said, 'The mark of the benevolent man is that he is loath to speak.' 'In that case, can a man be said to be benevolent simply because he is loath to speak?' The Master said, 'When to act is difficult, is it any wonder that one is loath to speak? '
Lau [12:3]
Seu ma Gniou ayant interrogé Confucius sur la vertu d'humanité, le Maître répondit : « Il est ardu d'en parler. » Seu ma Gniou dit : « Est-ce donc si difficile de parler de la vertu d'humanité ? » Le Maître répondit : « S'il est difficile de la mettre en pratique, comment ne le serait-il pas d'en parler ? »
Couvreur XII.3.
The Analects of Confucius – Lun Yu XII. 3. (296) – Chinese on/off – Français/English
Alias the Lunyu, the Lun Yü, the Analects, les Entretiens du maître avec ses disciples.
The Book of Odes, The Analects, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Three-characters book, The Book of Changes, The Way and its Power, 300 Tang Poems, The Art of War, Thirty-Six Strategies
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