Analects 6.19
The Analects (論語), BOOK VI. YUNG YEY 雍也第六
子曰、中人以上、可以語上也、中人以下、不可以語上也。
The Master said, "To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced."
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 中zhōngcentral; center, middle; amidst; to hit
- 人rénman, person; people
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 上shàngabove, on top, superior; to go up; to at
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 語yǔwords, language; saying, expression
- 也yěalso, too
- 下xiàbelow, underneath; inferior; to bring do
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
Passages with shared wording
- Mencius 1A.5
- Zhuangzi On Letting Alone
- Zhuangzi Autumn Floods
- Zhuangzi Man Among Men
- Zhuangzi Joined Toes
- Zhuangzi The Tao of God
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.