Analects 16.5
The Analects (論語), BOOK XVI. KE SHE 季氏第十六
孔子曰、益者三樂、損者三樂、樂節禮樂、樂道人之善、樂多賢友、益矣。樂驕樂、樂佚遊、樂宴樂、損矣。
Confucius said, "There are three things men find enjoyment in which are advantageous, and three things they find enjoyment in which are injurious. To find enjoyment in the discriminating study of ceremonies and music; to find enjoyment in
speaking of the goodness of others; to find enjoyment in having many worthy friends:—these are advantageous. To find enjoyment in extravagant pleasures; to find enjoyment in idleness and sauntering; to find enjoyment in the pleasures of feasting:—these are injurious."
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 孔kǒngopening, hole, orifice; great
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 益yìto profit, to benefit; advantage
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 三sānthree
- 樂lècheerful, happy, laughing; music
- 損sǔnto damage, to harm
- 節jiéfestival; knot, joint; segment; to econo
- 禮lǐcourtesy, manners, social customs
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
- 人rénman, person; people
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 善shàngood, virtuous, charitable, kind
- 多duōmuch, many, multi-; more than, over
- 賢xiánvirtuous, worthy; good, able
- 友yǒufriend, companion; fraternity
- 矣yǐparticle of completed action
- 驕jiāohaughty, spirited; a wild stallion
- 佚yìto indulge in pleasures; to flee
- 遊yóusto wander, to travel, to roam
- 宴yànbanquet, feast; to entertain
Passages with shared wording
- Analects 16.4
- Analects 14.47
- Zhuangzi Exercise of Faculties
- Mencius 7A.20
- Zhuangzi Mountain Trees
- Mencius 2B.2
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.