Confucian Analects · Analects 17.19
1. The Master said, 'I would prefer not speaking.' 2. Tsze-kung said, 'If you, Master, do not speak, what shall we, your disciples, have to record?' 3. The Master said, 'Does Heaven speak? The four seasons pursue their courses, and all things are continually being produced, but does Heaven say anything?'
Chinese · source text【十九章】【一節】子曰、予欲無言。子貢曰、子如不言、則小子何述焉。【三節】子曰、天何言哉、四時行焉、百物生焉、天何言哉。
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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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