Analects 13.8
The Analects (論語), BOOK XIII. TSZE-LU 子路第十三
子謂衞公子荊善居室、始有、曰、苟合矣、少有、曰、苟完矣、富有、曰、苟美矣。
The Master said of Ching, a scion of the ducal family of Wei, that he knew the economy of a family well. When he began to have means, he said, "Ha! here is a collection!" When they were a little increased, he said, "Ha! this is complete!" When he had become rich, he said, "Ha! this is admirable!"
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
- 謂wèito call, to say, to tell; name, title; m
- 衞wèiguard, protect, defend
- 公gōngfair, equitable; public; duke
- 荊jīngthorns, brambles; surname
- 善shàngood, virtuous, charitable, kind
- 居jūto live, to reside; to dwell; to sit
- 室shìhouse, home; room, chamber
- 始shǐto begin, to start; beginning
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 苟gǒucareless, frivolous, illicit; but, if on
- 合héto combine, to join, to unite; to gather
- 矣yǐparticle of completed action
- 少shǎofew, little; less; inadequate
- 完wánto complete, to finish, to settle; whole
- 富fùabundant, ample; rich, wealthy
- 美měibeautiful, pretty; pleasing
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.