Analects 7.25: 述而 (Shu Er)
Confucius and his disciples · Classical Chinese original · new English translation and commentary by Text Atlas
Overview
Book 7 builds a portrait of the Master through self-descriptions, conversations, and observations of his conduct. He loves the ancient tradition, learns through sustained attention, and teaches by asking learners to carry an indication further. Music, mourning, plain food, and illness show how these commitments enter daily life. Political judgment calls for knowing when to act or withdraw and for accepting criticism. Repeated disclaimers about his own attainment sit beside confidence in Heaven and the nearness of humaneness. The closing portrait holds warmth, firmness, respect, and ease together.
Analects 7.25
子曰、聖人吾不得而見之矣、得見君子者、斯可矣。子曰、善人吾不得而見之矣、得見有恆者、斯可矣。亡而為有、虛而為盈、約而為泰、難乎有恆矣。
The Master said, “I cannot expect to meet a sage. To meet an exemplary person would be enough.” The Master said, “I cannot expect to meet a good person. To meet someone steadfast would be enough. Having nothing yet pretending to have something, empty yet pretending to be full, hard-pressed yet pretending to be at ease—it is hard to be steadfast like that.”
Commentary
ethics A lesser claim that still asks for substance Each of the first two sayings moves from someone beyond the speaker’s reach to a person whose presence would suffice: sage to exemplary person, good person to steadfast person. The final contrasts explain why even steadfastness is difficult. Pretending to possess what one lacks puts the appearance of fullness or ease ahead of a stable relation to what one actually has.
Basis: textual-inference
Confidence: medium