Confucian Analects · Analects 14.26
1. Chu Po-yu sent a messenger with friendly inquiries to Confucius. 2. Confucius sat with him, and questioned him. 'What,' said he, 'is your master engaged in?' The messenger replied, 'My master is anxious to make his faults few, but he has not yet succeeded.' He then went out, and the Master said, 'A messenger indeed! A messenger indeed!'
Chinese · source text【廿六章】【一節】蘧伯玉使人於孔子。【二節】孔子與之坐、而問焉、曰、夫子何為。對曰、夫子欲寡其過、而未能也、使者出、子曰、使乎、使乎。
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Confucius · English translation by James Legge · bilingual transcription
James Legge, The Chinese Classics, Volume 1: Confucian Analects · Project Gutenberg #4094
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