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."

James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.

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Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.