Analects 13.14: 子路 (Zi Lu)
Confucius and his disciples · Classical Chinese original · new English translation and commentary by Text Atlas
Overview
Book 13 asks what makes government effective and what qualifies someone to serve. Leading by example, appointing capable people, setting names right, creating prosperity, and teaching all place demands on the ruler. Short claims about conduct stand beside long exchanges about speech, judgment, and the time needed for change. The book also tests uprightness, reputation, reliability, and harmony through particular relationships, sometimes leaving a difficult tension visible, as when family concealment is praised. Its closing sayings make preparation for war a responsibility toward the people who must fight.
Analects 13.14
冉子退朝、子曰、何晏也。對曰、有政。子曰、其事也、如有政、雖不吾以、吾其與聞之。
Master Ran returned from court. The Master asked, “Why so late?” He replied, “There was government business.” The Master said, “It must have been other business. If it were government business, even though I am not employed, surely I would have heard about it.”
Commentary
translation Whose business counts as government? Master Ran returns from court and calls the work 政, government business. The Master substitutes 事, other affairs. Legge explicitly makes these family affairs and takes the last clause to mean that Confucius would have been consulted. The Chinese does not name a family here; “would have heard about it” keeps 與聞 at the level of a claim to share in knowledge of public business.
Basis: translation-comparison
Confidence: medium