Analects 1.3
The Analects (論語), BOOK I. HSIO R 學而第一
子曰、巧言令色、鮮矣仁。
The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue."
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 巧qiǎoskillful, ingenious, clever
- 言yánwords, speech; to speak, to say
- 令lìngcommand, decree, order; magistrate; to a
- 色sècolor, tint, hue, shade; beauty, form; s
- 鮮xiānfresh; delicious; attractive
- 矣yǐparticle of completed action
- 仁rénbenevolent, humane, kind
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.