Confucian Analects · Analects 17.7
1. Pi Hsi inviting him to visit him, the Master was inclined to go. 2. Tsze-lu said, 'Master, formerly I have heard you say, "When a man in his own person is guilty of doing evil, a superior man will not associate with him." Pi Hsi is in rebellion, holding possession of Chung-mau; if you go to him, what shall be said?' 3. The Master said, 'Yes, I did use these words. But is it not said, that, if a thing be really hard, it may be ground without being made thin? Is it not said, that, if a thing be really white, it may be steeped in a dark fluid without being made black? 4. 'Am I a bitter gourd! How can I be hung up out of the way of being eaten?'
Chinese · source text【第七章】【一節】佛肸召。子欲往。【二節】子路曰、昔者由也、聞諸夫子曰、親於其身、為不善者、君子不入也、佛肸以中牟畔、子之往也、如之何。【三節】子曰、然、有是言也、不曰堅乎、磨而不磷、不曰白乎、涅而不緇。【四節】吾豈匏瓜也哉、焉能繫而不食。
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.