《論語》佳句精選

Owen Cheung

Those pickedupfrom Analects ofConfucius

If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge，so as continually to be acquiring new，he may bea teacher of others.

溫故而知新，可以為師矣。

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.

唯女子與小人，為難養也。近之則不遜，遠之則怨。

At fifteen I set my heart upon learning. At thirty，I planted my feet firm upon the ground. At forty，I no longer suffered from perplexities. At fifty，I knew what were the biddings of Heaven. At sixty，heard them with docile ear. At seventy，I could follow the dictates of my own heart; for what I desiredno longer overstepped the boundaries of right.

吾十有五而志于學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲，不逾矩。

I will not be afflicted at men's not knowing me; I will be afflicted that I do not know men.

不患人之不已知，患不知人也。

A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.

工欲善其事，必先利其器。

The superior man wishes to be slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct.

君子欲訥于言，而敏于行。

The superior man seeks to perfect the admirable qualities of men，and does not seek to perfect their bad qualities. The mean man does the opposite of this.

君子成人之美，不成人之惡，小人反是。

Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another.

道不同，不相為謀。

By nature，men are nearly alike; by practice，they get to be wide apart.

性相近也，習相遠也。

Not to mend the fault one has made is to err indeed.

過而不改，是謂過矣。

What you do not want done to yourself，do not do to others.

已所不欲，勿施于人。

S Keep what you say and carry out what you do.

言必信，行必果。

Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters？

有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎？

Is he not a man of complete virtue，who feels no discomposure though men may take no noteof him？

人不知而不慍，不亦君子乎？

It passes on just like this，not ceasing day or night.

逝者如斯夫，不舍晝夜。

If a man takes no thought about what is distant，he will find sorrow near at hand.

人無遠慮，必有近憂。

The wise find pleasure in water; the virtuous find pleasure in hills. The wise are active; thevirtuous are tranquil. The wise are joyful; the virtuous are long-lived.

知者樂水，仁者樂山。知者動，仁者靜。知者樂，仁者壽。

Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak notwhat is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.

非禮勿視，非禮勿聽，非禮勿言，非禮勿動。

When it comes to benevolence，one need not give precedence even to his teacher.

當仁，不讓于師。

Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application？

學而時習之，不亦說乎？

He was of an active nature and yet fond of learning，and he was not ashamed to ask and learnof his inferiors.

敏而好學，不恥下問。

When I walk along with two others，they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their goodqualities and follow them，their bad qualities and avoid them.

三人行，必有我師焉。擇其善者而從之，其不善者而改之。