Analects 6.28
The Analects (論語), BOOK VI. YUNG YEY 雍也第六
子貢曰、如有博施於民、而能濟眾、何如、可謂仁乎。子曰、何事於仁、必也聖乎、堯舜其猶病諸。夫仁者、己欲立而立人、己欲達而達人。能近取譬、可謂仁之方也已。
1. Tsze-kung said, "Suppose the case of a man extensively conferring benefits on the people, and able to assist all, what would you say of him? Might he be called perfectly virtuous?" The Master said, "Why speak only of virtue in connexion with him? Must he not have the qualities of a sage? Even Yao and Shun were still solicitous about this.
2. "Now the man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.
3. "To be able to judge of others by what is nigh in ourselves;—this may be called the art of virtue."
Character glossary
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 貢gòngto offer, to contribute; tribute, gifts
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 如rúas, as if, like, such as, supposing
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 博bóto gamble, to play games; to win; rich,
- 施shīto grant, to bestow; to act; surname
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 民míncitizens, subjects; a nation's people
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 能néngcan, may; capable, full of energy
- 濟jìto aid, to help, to relieve; to ferry ac
- 眾zhòngmultitude, crowd; masses, public
- 何héwhat, why, where, which, how
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 謂wèito call, to say, to tell; name, title; m
- 仁rénbenevolent, humane, kind
- 乎hūinterrogative or exclamatory final parti
- 事shìaffair, matter, business; to serve; acci
- 必bìsurely, certainly; must; will
- 也yěalso, too
- 聖shèngholy, sacred; sage, saint
- 堯yáoa legendary ancient emperor-sage
- 舜shùnlegendary ruler
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 猶yóusimilar to, just like, as
- 病bìngsickness, illness, disease
- 諸zhūall, many, various; surname
- 夫fūman, husband; worker; those
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 己jǐself, oneself; personal, private; 6th he
- 欲yùdesire, want, longing, intent
- 立lìto stand; to establish, to set up
- 人rénman, person; people
- 達dáto reach, to arrive at; intelligent
- 近jìnto approach; near, close; intimate
- 取qǔto take, to receive, to obtain; to selec
- 譬pìexample; metaphor, simile
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 方fāngsquare, rectangle; side; region; flag
- 已yǐalready; finished; to stop; then, afterw
Passages with shared wording
- Analects 14.45
- Zhuangzi The Universe
- Zhuangzi Tsê Yang
- Zhuangzi The Circling Sky
- Zhuangzi Tien Tzŭ Fang
- Mencius 1A.7
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.