Confucian Analects · Analects 5.25
1. Yen Yuan and Chi Lu being by his side, the Master said to them, 'Come, let each of you tell his wishes.' 2. Tsze-lu said, 'I should like, having chariots and horses, and light fur dresses, to share them with my friends, and though they should spoil them, I would not be displeased.' 3. Yen Yuan said, 'I should like not to boast of my excellence, nor to make a display of my meritorious deeds.' 4. Tsze-lu then said, 'I should like, sir, to hear your wishes.' The Master said, 'They are, in regard to the aged, to give them rest; in regard to friends, to show them sincerity; in regard to the young, to treat them tenderly.'
Chinese · source text【一節】顏淵季路侍。子曰、盍各言爾志。【二節】子路曰、願車馬、衣輕裘、與朋友共、蔽之而無憾。【三節】顏淵曰、願無伐善、無施勞。【四節】子路曰、願聞子之志。子曰、老者安之、朋友信之、少者懷之。
Read in context ›
Confucius · English translation by James Legge · bilingual transcription
James Legge, The Chinese Classics, Volume 1: Confucian Analects · Project Gutenberg #4094
Passage preview. Read in context for the complete text, notes and references.