Analects 5.25
The Analects (論語), BOOK V. KUNG-YE CH'ANG 公冶長第五
顏淵季路侍。子曰、盍各言爾志。子路曰、願車馬、衣輕裘、與朋友共、蔽之而無憾。顏淵曰、願無伐善、無施勞。子路曰、願聞子之志。子曰、老者安之、朋友信之、少者懷之。
1. Yen Yuan and Chi Lu being by his side, the Master said to them, "Come, let each of you tell his wishes."
2. Tsze-lu said, "I should like, having chariots and horses, and light fur dresses, to share them with my friends, and though they should spoil them, I would not be displeased."
3. Yen Yuan said, "I should like not to boast of my excellence, nor to make a display of my meritorious deeds."
4. Tsze-lu then said, "I should like, sir, to hear your wishes." The Master said, "They are, in regard to the aged, to give them rest; in regard to friends, to show them sincerity; in regard to the young, to treat them tenderly."
Character glossary
- 顏yánface, facial appearance
- 淵yuānabyss, depth; to surge up, to bubble up
- 季jìa quarter-year, a season; surname
- 路lùroad, path, street; journey
- 侍shìto serve, to attend upon; servant, atten
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 盍héwhat? why not?
- 各gèindividual; each, every; all
- 言yánwords, speech; to speak, to say
- 爾ěryou; that, those; final particle
- 志zhìdetermination, will; mark, sign; to reco
- 願yuàndesire, wish; honest, virtuous; ready, w
- 車chēcart, vehicle; to move in a cart
- 馬mǎhorse; surname
- 衣yīcloth; clothes, apparel; dress, coat
- 輕qīnglight, gentle; simple, easy
- 裘qiúfur coat; surname
- 與yǔand; with; to; for; to give, to grant
- 朋péngfriend, pal, acquaintance
- 友yǒufriend, companion; fraternity
- 共gòngall, total; together; to share
- 蔽bìto cover, to hide, to shelter
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 無wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 憾hànregret, remorse
- 伐fácut down, subjugate, attack
- 善shàngood, virtuous, charitable, kind
- 施shīto grant, to bestow; to act; surname
- 勞láoto labor, to toil; to do manual work
- 聞wénnews; to hear, to smell; to make known
- 老lǎoold, aged; experienced
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 安ānpeaceful, tranquil, quiet
- 信xìnto trust, to believe; letter, sign
- 少shǎofew, little; less; inadequate
- 懷huáibosom, breast; to carry in one's bosom
Passages with shared wording
- Analects 6.3
- Zhuangzi Tien Tzŭ Fang
- Mencius 6B.4
- Zhuangzi Nourishment of the Soul
- Zhuangzi Robber Chê
- Zhuangzi Knowledge travels North
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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