The Master said, "Abroad, to serve the high ministers and nobles; at home, to serve one's father and elder brothers;
子曰:“出则事公卿,入则事父兄,
in all duties to the dead, not to dare not to exert one's self; and not to be overcome of wine: which one of these things do I attain to?"
丧事不敢不勉,不为酒困,何有于我哉?”
The Master standing by a stream, said, "It passes on just like this, not ceasing day or night!"
子在川上曰:“逝者如斯夫!不舍昼夜。”
The Master said, "I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty."
子曰:“吾未见好德如好色者也。”
The Master said, "The prosecution of learning may be compared to what may happen in raising a mound.
子曰:“譬如为山,
If there want but one basket of earth to complete the work, and I stop, the stopping is my own work.
未成一篑,止,吾止也;
It may be compared to throwing down the earth on the level ground.
譬如平地,
Though but one basketful is thrown at a time, the advancing with it my own going forward."
虽覆一篑,进,吾往也。”
The Master said, "Never flagging when I set forth anything to him; ah! that is Hui."
子曰:“语之而不惰者,其回也与!”
The Master said of Yen Yuan, "Alas! I saw his constant advance. I never saw him stop in his progress."
子谓颜渊,曰:“惜乎!吾见其进也,未见其止也。”
The Master said, "There are cases in which the blade springs, but the plant does not go on to flower!
子曰:“苗而不秀者有矣夫,
There are cases where it flowers but fruit is not subsequently produced!"
秀而不实者有矣夫。”