Confucian Analects · Analects 16.11
1. Confucius said, 'Contemplating good, and pursuing it, as if they could not reach it; contemplating evil, and shrinking from it, as they would from thrusting the hand into boiling water:-- I have seen such men, as I have heard such words. 2. 'Living in retirement to study their aims, and practising righteousness to carry out their principles:-- I have heard these words, but I have not seen such men.'
Chinese · source text【十一章】【一節】孔子曰、見善如不及、見不善而探湯、吾見其人矣、吾聞其語矣。【二節】隱居以求其志、行義以達其道、吾聞其語矣、未見其人也。
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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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