Analects 13.3: 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 13.3
子路曰、衛君待子而為政、子將奚先。子曰、必也、正名乎。子路曰、有是哉、子之迂也、奚其正。子曰、野哉、由也、君子於其所不知、蓋闕如也。名不正、則言不順、言不順、則事不成。事不成、則禮樂不興、禮樂不興、則刑罰不中、刑罰不中、則民無所措手足。故君子名之必可言也、言之必可行也、君子於其言、無所茍而已矣。
Zilu said, “The ruler of Wei is waiting for you to govern. What would you put first?” The Master said, “Surely, setting names right.” Zilu said, “Really! How far off the point you are! Why set names right?” The Master said to You, “How uncultivated! Where an exemplary person does not know, they leave the matter open. If names are not right, words do not make sense; if words do not make sense, affairs cannot be accomplished. If affairs cannot be accomplished, ritual and music will not flourish. If ritual and music do not flourish, punishments will not fit. If punishments do not fit, the people will have nowhere to put hand or foot. So the names an exemplary person uses must make sense in speech, and what they say must be possible to carry out. An exemplary person is simply never careless in speech.”
Commentary
politics Names have public consequences The answer to Zilu’s question proceeds through a chain: names, speech, accomplished affairs, ritual and music, fitting punishments, and the people’s ability to act. The image of having nowhere to put hand or foot makes the final consequence bodily. The last sentence returns to the speaker’s responsibility to use words that can be put into practice.
Basis: textual-inference
Confidence: high
translation What makes words fit? Legge explains 言不順 as language failing to accord with the truth of things. “Words do not make sense” keeps 順 closer to coherence and fit, while the political setting gives that fit practical consequences. 名 can include names and designations of roles; the passage does not identify a particular disputed title.
Basis: translation-comparison
Confidence: medium
philology You is the name in the rebuke The Master addresses Zilu as 由, You, within this exchange. Framing the reply as “The Master said to You” distinguishes the personal name from the English pronoun. The rebuke is followed by a rule of restraint: an exemplary person leaves open what they do not know.
Basis: textual-inference
Confidence: high