The Analects III

「溫故而知新，可以為師矣。」

Translation: "Reviewing what you have learned and learning anew, you are fit to be a teacher."

「君子周而不比，小人比而不周。」

Translation: "The Superior Man is all-embracing and not partial. The inferior man is partial and not all-embracing."

「學而不思則罔，思而不學則殆。」

Translation: "To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous."

「攻乎異端，斯害也己。」

Translation: "To throw oneself into strange teachings is quite dangerous."

「由！誨女知之乎！知之為知之，不知為不知，是知也。」

Translation: "You, shall I teach you about knowledge? What you know, you know, what you don't know, you don't know. This is advisable."

「多闻阙疑，慎言其馀，则寡尤。多见阙殆，慎行其馀，则寡悔。言寡尤，行寡悔，禄在其中矣。」

Translation: "Listen widely to remove your doubts and be careful when speaking about the rest and your mistakes will be few. See much and get rid of what is dangerous and be careful in acting on the rest and your causes for regret will be few. Speaking without fault, acting without causing regret: 'upgrading' consists in this."

「殷因於夏礼，所损益，可知也；周因於殷礼，所损益，可知也。其或继周者，虽百世，可知也。」

Translation: "The Shang based its propriety on that of the Yin, and what it added and subtracted is knowable. The Chou has based its propriety on that of the Shang and what it added and subtracted is knowable. In this way, what continues from the Chou, even if 100 generations hence, is knowable."

「非其鬼而祭之，谄也。见义不为，无勇也。」

Translation: "To worship to other than one's own ancestral spirits is brown-nosing. If you see what is right and fail to act on it, you lack courage."

「人而不仁，如礼何？人而不仁，如乐何？」

Translation: "If a man has no humaneness what can his propriety be like? If a man has no humaneness what can his music be like?"

「君子无所争。必也射乎！揖让而升，下而饮。其争也君子。」

Translation: "The Superior Man has nothing to compete for. But if he must compete, he does it in an archery match, wherein he ascends to his position, bowing in deference. Descending, he drinks the ritual cup. This is the competition of the Superior Man."

「君子喻於义，小人喻於利。」

Translation: "The Superior Man is aware of Righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage."

「见贤思齐焉；见不贤而内自省也。」

Translation: "When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points."

「事父母几谏，见志不从，又敬不违，劳而不怨。」

Translation: "When you serve your mother and father it is okay to try to correct them once in a while. But if you see that they are not going to listen to you, keep your respect for them and don't distance yourself from them. Work without complaining."

「知之者不如好之者，好之者不如乐之者。」

Translation: "They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who delight in it."

「中人以上，可以语上也；中人以下，不可以语上也。」

Translation: "To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced."