孔子處世語錄

君子不以言舉人，不以人廢言。The superior man does not promote a man simply on account of his words, not does he put aside good words because of the man.

工欲善其事，必先利其器。A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.

君子和而不同，小人同而不合。The superior man aims at harmony but not at uniformity. The mean man aims at uniformity but not at harmony.

欲速則不達，見小利則大事不成。If you have things done hastily, you will not reach the goal. If you only see small gains, you will not accomplish great tasks.

其身正，不令而行；其身不正，雖令不從。When a ruler's personal conduct is correct, he will be obeyed without the issuing of orders. If his personal conduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed.

歲寒，然後知松柏之後凋也。Only when the year becomes cold do we know how the pine and the cypreare the last to fade.

見義不為，無勇也。To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.

見賢思齊焉，見不賢而內自省也。When we see men of worth, we should think of equalling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

君子欲訥於言，而敏於行。The superior man wishes to be slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct.

三軍可奪師也，匹夫不可奪志也。The commander of the forces of a large state may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.

知者不惑，仁者不憂，勇者不懼。The wise are free from perplexities; the virtuous from anxiety; and the bold from fear.

克己復禮為仁。一日克己復禮，天下歸仁焉。為仁由己，而由人乎哉。To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?

君子敬而無失，與人恭而有禮。四海之內，皆兄弟也，君子何患乎無兄弟也。Let the superior man never fail reverentially to order his own conduct, and let him be respectful to others and observant of propriety:-- then all within the whole country will be his brothers. What has the superior man to do with being distressed because he has no brothers?

君子成人之美，不成人之惡，小人反是。The superior man seeks to perfect the admirable qualities of men, and does not seek to perfect their bad qualities. The mean man does the opposite of this.

何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindnewith kindness.

巧言亂德。小不忍，則亂大謀。Specious words confound virtue. Want of forbearance in small matters confounds great plans.

道不同，不相為謀。Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another.