Analects 14.13
The Analects (論語), BOOK XIV. HSIEN WAN 憲問第十四
子路問成人。子曰、若臧武仲之知、公綽之不欲、卞莊子之勇、冉求之藝、文之以禮樂、亦可以爲成人矣。曰、今之成人者、何必然、見利思義、見危授命、久要不忘平生之言、亦可以爲成人矣。
1. Tsze-lu asked what constituted a complete man. The Master said, "Suppose a man with the knowledge of Tsang Wu-chung, the freedom from covetousness of Kung-ch'o, the bravery of Chwang of Pien, and the varied talents of Zan Ch'iu; add to these the accomplishments of the rules of propriety and music:—such a one might be reckoned a complete man."
2. He then added, "But what is the necessity for a complete man of the present day to have all these things? The man, who in the
view of gain, thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends:—such a man may be reckoned a complete man."
Character glossary
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 路lùroad, path, street; journey
- 問wènto ask about, to inquire after
- 成chéngto accomplish; to become; to complete, t
- 人rénman, person; people
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 若ruòif, supposing, assuming; similar
- 臧zānggood, right; generous; to command
- 武wǔmilitary; martial, warlike
- 仲zhòngmiddle brother; go between, mediator; su
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 知zhīto know, to perceive, to comprehend
- 公gōngfair, equitable; public; duke
- 綽chuògraceful, delicate; spacious
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 欲yùdesire, want, longing, intent
- 卞biànto be impatient; hasty, excitable
- 莊zhuāngvillage, hamlet; villa, manor
- 勇yǒngbrave, courageous, fierce
- 冉rǎntender; weak; to proceed gradually
- 求qiúto seek; to request, to demand; to besee
- 藝yìart; talent, ability; craft
- 文wénculture, literature, writing
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 禮lǐcourtesy, manners, social customs
- 樂lècheerful, happy, laughing; music
- 亦yìalso, too; likewise
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 爲wèido, handle, govern, act; be
- 矣yǐparticle of completed action
- 今jīnmodern, current; today, now
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 何héwhat, why, where, which, how
- 必bìsurely, certainly; must; will
- 然ráncertainly; naturally; suddenly
- 見jiànto see, to observe, to meet, to appear
- 利lìgains, advantage, profit, merit
- 思sīto think, to ponder, to consider; final
- 義yìright conduct, propriety; justice
- 危wēidangerous, precarious; high
- 授shòuto award, to confer, to instruct, to tea
- 命mìnglife; destiny, fate, luck; an order, ins
- 久jiǔlong ago; a long time
- 要yàoessential, necessary; to ask for; to coe
- 忘wàngto forget, to miss, to neglect, to overl
- 平píngflat, level, even; peaceful
- 生shēnglife, lifetime; birth; growth
- 言yánwords, speech; to speak, to say
Passages with shared wording
- Zhuangzi The Universe
- Zhuangzi Knowledge travels North
- Analects 14.15
- Analects 19.1
- Zhuangzi Tien Tzŭ Fang
- Zhuangzi Hsü Wu Kuei
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.