The Master said, "He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good."
子曰:“其言之不怍,则为之也难。”
Chan Ch'ang murdered the Duke Chien of Ch'i. Confucius bathed, went to court and informed the Duke Ai, saying, "I beg that you will undertake to punish him."
陈成子弑简公,孔子沐浴而朝,告于哀公曰:“陈恒弑其君,请讨之。”
The duke said, "Inform the chiefs of the three families of it."
公曰:“告夫三子。”
Confucius retired, and said, "Following in the rear of the great officers, I did not dare not to represent such a matter,
孔子曰:“以吾从大夫之后,不敢不告也,
and my prince says, "Inform the chiefs of the three families of it."
君曰‘告夫三子’者!”
He went to the chiefs, and informed them, but they would not act.
之三子告,不可。
Confucius then said, "Following in the rear of the great officers, I did not dare not to represent such a matter."
孔子曰:“以吾从大夫之后,不敢不告也。”
Tsze-lu asked how a ruler should be served. The Master said, "Do not impose on him, and, moreover, withstand him to his face."
子路问事君,子曰:“勿欺也,而犯之。”
The Master said, "The progress of the superior man is upwards; the progress of the mean man is downwards."
子曰:“君子上达,小人下达。”
The Master said, "In ancient times, men learned with a view to their own improvement. Nowadays, men learn with a view to the approbation of others."
子曰:“古之学者为己,今之学者为人。”
Chu Po-yu sent a messenger with friendly inquiries to Confucius.
蘧伯玉使人于孔子。