Confucian Analects · Analects 14.14
1. The Master asked Kung-ming Chia about Kung-shu Wan, saying, 'Is it true that your master speaks not, laughs not, and takes not?' 2. Kung-ming Chia replied, 'This has arisen from the reporters going beyond the truth.-- My master speaks when it is the time to speak, and so men do not get tired of his speaking. He laughs when there is occasion to be joyful, and so men do not get tired of his laughing. He takes when it is consistent with righteousness to do so, and so men do not get tired of his taking.' The Master said, 'So! But is it so with him?'
Chinese · source text【十四章】【一節】子問公叔文子於公明賈曰、信乎、夫子不言不笑、不取乎。【二節】公明賈對曰、以告者過也。夫子時然後言、人不厭其言、樂然後笑、人不厭其笑、義然後取、人不厭其取。子曰、其然、豈其然乎。
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.