Analects 5.8: 公冶長 (Gongye Chang)
Confucius and his disciples · Classical Chinese original · new English translation and commentary by Text Atlas
Overview
Book 5 tests judgments of people against their conduct. The Master praises particular abilities and virtues while repeatedly withholding the larger judgment of humaneness. Marriage choices, public service, friendship, speech, and learning supply different kinds of evidence. Several exchanges expose a distance between what someone says or wants and what they can do; Zai Yu’s conduct even changes the Master’s way of judging. Near the end, the teacher and his companions state their own aspirations. The closing sayings turn assessment inward, toward recognizing faults and continuing to love learning.
Analects 5.8
子謂子貢曰、女與回也、孰愈。對曰、賜也、何敢望回、回也、聞一以知十、賜也、聞一以知二。子曰、弗如也、吾與女、弗如也。
The Master asked Zigong, “Who is better, you or Hui?” He replied, “How would I dare compare myself with Hui? Hui hears one thing and understands ten; I hear one and understand two.” The Master said, “You do not match him. I agree with you: you do not match him.”
Commentary
translation Agreeing with Zigong—or joining him? The English retains the numerical contrast in 聞一以知十 and 聞一以知二: Hui reaches ten from one, Zigong two. Legge expands the ten into comprehensive understanding. The final 吾與女 can mean “I agree with you,” as translated here and by Legge, or “I and you,” which would include the Master among those who do not match Hui.
Basis: translation-comparison
Confidence: medium