2. 为政 （1/2）

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-1）子曰：”为政以德, 譬如北辰居其所而众星共之。”

（2:1） Confucius said: "If you govern with the power of your virtue, you will be like the North Star. It just stays in its place while all the other stars position themselves around it."

（Comment）

This is the Analects' first statement on government. Scholars of Chinese thought have commonly placed great emphasis on a supposed radical distinction between Confucian "authoritative" government and Taoist "laissez-faire" government. But numerous Confucian passages such as this which suggest of the ruler's governance by a mere attunement with an inner principle of goodness, without unnecessary external action, quite like the Taoist wu-wei are far more numerous than has been noted. This is one good reason for us to be careful when making the commonplace Confucian/Taoist generalizations without qualification.

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-2）子曰：”诗三百, 一言以蔽之, 曰：（思无邪）。”

（2:2） Confucius said: "The 300 verses of the Book of Odes can be summed up in a single phrase: 'Don't think in an evil way.' "

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-3）子曰：”道之以政, 齐之以刑, 民免而无耻; 道之以德, 齐之以礼, 有耻且格。”

（2:3） Confucius said: "If you govern the people legalistically and control them by punishment, they will avoid crime, but have no personal sense of shame. If you govern them by means of virtue and control them with propriety, they will gain their own sense of shame, and thus correct themselves."

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-4）子曰：”吾十有五而志于学, 三十而立, 四十而不惑, 五十而知天命, 六十而耳顺, 七十而从心所欲, 不踰矩。”

（2:4） Confucius said: "At fifteen my heart was set on learning; at thirty I stood firm; at forty I had no more doubts; at fifty I knew the mandate of heaven; at sixty my ear was obedient; at seventy I could follow my heart's desire without transgressing the norm."

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-5）孟懿子问孝。子曰：”无违。”樊迟御, 子告之曰：”孟孙问孝于我, 我对曰, （无违。）”樊迟曰：”何谓也 “子曰：”生, 事之以礼; 死, 葬之以礼, 祭之以礼。”

（2:5） Meng I Tzu asked about the meaning of filial piety. Confucius said, "It means 'not diverging (from your parents).' " Later, when Fan Chih was driving him, Confucius told Fan Chih, "Meng Sun asked me about the meaning of filial piety, and I told him 'not diverging.' " Fan Chih said, "What did you mean by that?" Confucius said, "When your parents are alive, serve them with propriety; when they die, bury them with propriety, and then worship them with propriety."

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-6）孟武伯问孝。子曰：”父母唯其疾之忧。”

（2:6） Meng Wu Po asked about the meaning of filial piety. Confucius said, "The main concern of your parents is about your health."

（Comment）

When we are separated from our parents for long periods of time, we can set their minds at ease by letting them know that we are in good health.

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-7）子游问孝。子曰：”今之孝者, 是谓能养。至于犬马, 皆能有养; 不敬, 何以别乎。”

（2:7） Tzu Lu asked about the meaning of filial piety. Confucius said, "Nowadays filial piety means being able to feed your parents. But everyone does this for even horses and dogs. Without respect, what's the difference?"

Esicq注：

“至于犬马, 皆能有养”，James Legge的译文是：“But dogs and horses likewise are able to do something in the way of support”。似不及Charles Muller的译本。

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-8）子夏问孝。子曰：”色难。有事, 弟子服其劳; 有酒食, 先生馔, 曾是以为孝乎 “

（2:8） Tzu Hsia asked about filial piety. Confucius said, "What is important is the expression you show in your face. You should not understand 'filial' to mean merely the young doing physical tasks for their parents, or giving them food and wine when it is available."

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-9）子曰：“吾与回言，终日不违，如愚。退而省其私，亦足以发，回也不愚。”

（2:9） Confucius said: "I can talk with Hui for a whole day without him differing with me in any way— as if he is stupid. But when he retires and I observe his personal affairs, it is quite clear that he is not stupid."

（Comment）

Hui (Yen Yuan) was Confucius' favorite disciple, who is praised in many passages of the Analects. He died at a young age, probably around thirty, a fact which Confucius lamented.

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-10）子曰：“视其所以，观其所由，察其所安，人焉廋哉？人焉廋哉？”

（2:10） Confucius said: "See a person's means (of getting things). Observe his motives. Examine that in which he rests. How can a person conceal his character? How can a person conceal his character?"

（Comment）

People think that they are successfully hiding the devious plots that are going on in their minds. But as the Doctrine of the Mean teaches, "The sincerity on the inside shows on the outside." When someone is deceitful, everyone knows it. When someone is good and honest, everyone knows it.

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-11）子曰：”温故而知新, 可以为师矣。”

（2:11） Confucius said: "Reviewing what you have learned and learning anew, you are fit to be a teacher."

（Chinese Source Text）

（2-12）子曰：”君子不器。”

（2:12） Confucius said: "The Superior Man is not a utensil."

（Comment）

The Superior Man is not a technician, to be used by others to do a single job. On another level, his mind is not narrowly oriented by a specific task. The chun-tzu thinks broadly and does not limit himself quickly into a certain world-view, and cannot easily be used as a cog in someone else's machine.