Analects 7.11
The Analects (論語), BOOK VII. SHU R 述而第七
子曰、富而可求也、雖執鞭之士、吾亦爲之、如不可求、從吾所好。
The Master said, "If the search for riches is sure to be successful, though I should become a groom with whip in hand to get them, I will do so. As the search may not be successful, I will follow after that which I love."
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
- 富fùabundant, ample; rich, wealthy
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 求qiúto seek; to request, to demand; to besee
- 也yěalso, too
- 雖suīalthough, even though
- 執zhíto execute; to grasp, to hold; to keep;
- 鞭biānwhip; to lash, to flog
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 士shìscholar, gentleman; soldier
- 吾wúI, my, our; to resist, to impede
- 亦yìalso, too; likewise
- 爲wèido, handle, govern, act; be
- 如rúas, as if, like, such as, supposing
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 從cóngfrom, by, since, whence, through
- 所suǒplace, location; "that which", a particl
- 好hǎogood, excellent, fine; proper, suitable;
Passages with shared wording
- Mencius 2A.2
- Zhuangzi The Secret of Life
- Mencius 3B.10
- Analects 2.21
- Tao Te Ching Chapter 49
- Analects 5.11
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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