Analects 14.14
The Analects (論語), BOOK XIV. HSIEN WAN 憲問第十四
子問公叔文子於公明賈曰、信乎、夫子不言、不笑、不取乎。公明賈對曰、以吿者過也。夫子時然後言、人不厭其言、樂然後笑、人不厭其笑、義然後取、人不厭其取。子曰、其然、豈其然乎。
1. The Master asked Kung-ming Chia about Kung-shu Wan, saying, "Is it true that your master speaks not, laughs not, and takes not?"
2. Kung-ming Chia replied, "This has arisen from the reporters going beyond the truth.—My master speaks when it is the time to speak, and so men do not get tired of his speaking. He laughs when there is occasion to be joyful, and so men do not get tired of his laughing. He takes when it is consistent with righteousness to do so, and so men do not get tired of his taking." The Master said, "So! But is it so with him?"
Character glossary
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 問wènto ask about, to inquire after
- 公gōngfair, equitable; public; duke
- 叔shūuncle; father's younger brother
- 文wénculture, literature, writing
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 明míngbright, clear; to explain, to understand
- 賈jiǎmerchant; to buy, to trade; surname
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 信xìnto trust, to believe; letter, sign
- 乎hūinterrogative or exclamatory final parti
- 夫fūman, husband; worker; those
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 言yánwords, speech; to speak, to say
- 笑xiàoto smile, to laugh; to giggle; to snicke
- 取qǔto take, to receive, to obtain; to selec
- 對duìcorrect, right; facing, opposed
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 吿gàotell, announce, inform; accuse
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 過guòpass; to go across, to pass through
- 也yěalso, too
- 時shítime, season; period, era, age
- 然ráncertainly; naturally; suddenly
- 後hòuafter; behind, rear; descendants
- 人rénman, person; people
- 厭yànto dislike, to detest; to reject; to sat
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 樂lècheerful, happy, laughing; music
- 義yìright conduct, propriety; justice
- 豈qǐwhat; how
Passages with shared wording
- Zhuangzi The Tao of God
- Analects 14.19
- Tao Te Ching Chapter 41
- Zhuangzi The Circling Sky
- Zhuangzi The Secret of Life
- Mencius 2B.9
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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