The Analects
Book 11 · The Earlier Disciples
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The Earlier Disciples · 11.1
The Master said, “Those who first practiced rites and music are regarded as rustic people; those who came later are regarded as exemplary people. But if I were to put rites and music into practice, I would follow the earlier practitioners.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.2
The Master said, “Those who followed me in Chen and Cai are all absent from my school now.”
In virtuous conduct: Yan Yuan, Min Ziqian, Ran Boniu, and Zhonggong. In speech: Zai Wo and Zigong. In government: Ran You and Jilu. In the study of cultural texts: Ziyou and Zixia.
The Earlier Disciples · 11.3
The Master said, “Hui is no help to me in drawing out my thoughts! There is nothing I say that does not delight him.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.4
The Master said, “How filial Min Ziqian is! No one finds fault with what his parents and brothers say of him.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.5
Nan Rong repeatedly recited the poem about the white jade tablet. Confucius gave him his elder brother's daughter in marriage.
The Earlier Disciples · 11.6
Ji Kangzi asked, “Which of your disciples loves learning?” Confucius replied, “There was Yan Hui, who loved learning. Unfortunately, his life was short and he died. Now there is no one like him.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.7
When Yan Yuan died, Yan Lu asked for the Master's carriage so that he could provide an outer coffin. The Master said, “Gifted or not, each father speaks of his own son. When Li died, he had an inner coffin but no outer one. I did not give up my carriage and go on foot to provide him with an outer coffin. Having served among the great officers, I cannot properly go on foot.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.8
When Yan Yuan died, the Master said, “Alas! Heaven is destroying me! Heaven is destroying me!”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.9
When Yan Yuan died, the Master wept in great grief. His followers said, “Master, your grief is overwhelming.” He said, “Is it overwhelming? If I do not grieve deeply for this man, for whom should I grieve?”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.10
When Yan Yuan died, the disciples wished to give him a lavish burial. The Master said, “You must not.” The disciples gave him a lavish burial anyway. The Master said, “Hui regarded me as a father, yet I have not been able to treat him as my son. This was not my doing; it was yours, my disciples.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.11
Jilu asked about serving ghosts and spirits. The Master said, “When you are not yet able to serve people, how can you serve ghosts?”
“May I ask about death?”
“When you do not yet understand life, how can you understand death?”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.12
Standing beside the Master, Minzi was upright and respectful; Zilu was bold and vigorous; Ran You and Zigong were relaxed and cheerful. The Master was pleased. Yet he said, “Someone like You may not meet a peaceful death!”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.13
The people of Lu were rebuilding the Chang treasury. Min Ziqian said, “What if we kept the old arrangement? Why must we rebuild it?” The Master said, “This man seldom speaks, but when he does, he hits the mark.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.14
The Master said, “What is You's zither playing doing in my school?” The disciples then ceased to respect Zilu. The Master said, “You has already ascended the hall; he has simply not yet entered the inner chamber!”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.15
Zigong asked, “Which is better, Shi or Shang?” The Master said, “Shi goes too far; Shang does not go far enough.” Zigong said, “Then is Shi better?” The Master said, “Going too far is like falling short.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.16
The Ji family was wealthier than the Duke of Zhou, yet Qiu collected revenues for it and added to its wealth. The Master said, “He is no disciple of mine! My young friends, you may beat the drums and denounce him.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.17
Chai was simple to the point of foolishness; Shen was slow; Shi was extreme; You was rough and rash.
The Earlier Disciples · 11.18
The Master said, “Hui comes close to the Way, yet is often in want. Ci will not rest content with his lot, but engages in commerce. When he estimates the market, he is often right.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.19
Zizhang asked about the way of the good person. The Master said, “Without following the tracks of those who came before, one cannot enter the inner chamber.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.20
The Master said, “We approve of someone whose speech sounds earnest and substantial. But is this an exemplary person, or merely someone with a solemn appearance?”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.21
Zilu asked, “Should I act as soon as I hear what is right?” The Master said, “With your father and elder brothers still there, how could you act immediately on hearing it?”
Ran You asked, “Should I act as soon as I hear what is right?” The Master said, “Act on hearing it.”
Gongxi Hua said, “When You asked whether to act on hearing, you said that his father and elder brothers were still there. When Qiu asked the same question, you told him to act. I, Chi, am confused and venture to ask why.”
The Master said, “Qiu hangs back, so I urge him forward. You has the boldness of more than one person, so I hold him back.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.22
When the Master was in danger in Kuang, Yan Yuan fell behind. The Master said, “I thought you had died!” Yan Yuan replied, “While you are still alive, how would I, Hui, dare to die?”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.23
Ji Ziran asked, “Can Zhong You and Ran Qiu be called great ministers?” The Master said, “I thought you were going to ask about something else, but you are only asking about You and Qiu! A great minister serves a ruler according to the Way and withdraws when that is impossible. As for You and Qiu, they may be called ministers who fill their posts.”
Ji Ziran said, “Then will they simply obey?”
The Master said, “They would not obey an order to murder a father or a ruler.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.24
Zilu appointed Zigao as steward of Bi. The Master said, “You are harming someone else's son.” Zilu said, “There are people there, and altars to the soil and grain. Why must reading books be the only way to learn?” The Master said, “That is why I dislike glib talkers.”
The Earlier Disciples · 11.25
Zilu, Zeng Xi, Ran You, and Gongxi Hua were sitting with the Master. He said, “Do not hold back because I am a little older than you. You often say, ‘No one recognizes my abilities.’ If someone did recognize you and employ you, what would you do?”
Zilu answered hastily, “Take a state of a thousand chariots, hemmed in by great states, beset by armies, and suffering famine as well. If I, You, governed it, in three years I could give its people courage and a sense of the right direction.” The Master smiled at him.
“Qiu, what about you?”
He replied, “A territory sixty or seventy li square, or even fifty or sixty: if I, Qiu, governed it, in three years I could ensure that the people had enough. As for rites and music, I would await an exemplary person.”
“Chi, what about you?”
He replied, “I do not claim to be able to do it; I wish to learn. At ancestral temple ceremonies or meetings of the lords, wearing the proper robes and cap, I would like to serve as a junior ceremonial assistant.”
“Dian, what about you?”
His zither playing slowed. With a final ringing note, he set the instrument aside and rose. He replied, “My choice differs from those of these three.”
The Master said, “What harm is there in that? Each of you is simply speaking of his aspirations.”
He said, “In late spring, when the spring clothes are ready, I would go with five or six capped adults and six or seven boys to bathe in the Yi River, enjoy the breeze at the Rain Dance Terrace, and return home singing.”
The Master sighed deeply and said, “I am with Dian!”
The other three went out, while Zeng Xi stayed behind. He asked, “What did you think of what those three said?”
The Master said, “They were simply stating their own aspirations.”
“Why did you smile at You?”
“A state is governed through ritual propriety, but his words lacked modesty. That is why I smiled.”
“But was Qiu not also speaking of a state?”
“Where have you seen a territory sixty or seventy li square, or even fifty or sixty, that was not a state?”
“And was Chi not also speaking of a state?”
“Ancestral temple ceremonies and meetings of rulers—whose affairs are these if not those of the lords? If Chi is to serve only as a junior assistant, who could serve as the senior one?”
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