Analects 7.1
The Analects (論語), BOOK VII. SHU R 述而第七
子曰、述而不作、信而好古、竊比於我老彭。
The Master said, "A transmitter and not a maker, believing in and loving the ancients, I venture to compare myself with our old P'ang."
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
- 述shùto express, to state; to narrate, to tel
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 作zuòto make; to write, to compose; to act, t
- 信xìnto trust, to believe; letter, sign
- 好hǎogood, excellent, fine; proper, suitable;
- 古gǔold, classic, ancient
- 竊qièto steal; thief; secret, stealthy
- 比bǐto compare, liken; comparison; than
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 我wǒI, me, my; our, us
- 老lǎoold, aged; experienced
- 彭péngname of an ancient country; surname
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.