Analects 12.18: 顏淵 (Yan Yuan)
Confucius and his disciples · Classical Chinese original · new English translation and commentary by Text Atlas
Overview
Book 12 asks how humaneness takes shape in conduct: self-mastery and ritual, care toward others, and words answerable to action. Its political exchanges test government through trust, the people’s livelihood, and the example of those who lead. Questions about clear sight and genuine accomplishment make understanding people more demanding than knowing their reputation. The account of promoting the upright brings that judgment into public service, while Zixia’s examples place the distancing of the inhumane beside the claim of reform. The closing sayings return to friendship as a practice of advice, restraint, learning, and support for humaneness.
Analects 12.18
李康子患盜、問於孔子。孔子對曰、苟子之不欲、雖賞之不竊。
Ji Kangzi was troubled by theft and asked Confucius about it. Confucius replied, “If you yourself were free from greed, they would not steal even if you rewarded them for it.”
Commentary
politics Theft and the ruler’s desire The question concerns theft among others; the answer turns to the questioner’s own 欲, desire. “Greed” takes that desire in the context of taking what belongs to others. The claim that people would refuse even a reward for stealing pushes the power of example to an extreme. It prepares the next exchange’s return to what the ruler desires.
Basis: textual-inference
Confidence: medium
source variant The repeated surname Here too the Chinese prints 李, Li. Ji Kangzi follows the 季 identification, also reflected in Legge’s Chi K’ang. The difference is the same as in 12.17; the printed name is preserved.
Basis: translation-comparison
Confidence: medium