Analects 7.28
The Analects (論語), BOOK VII. SHU R 述而第七
互鄉難與言、童子見、門人惑。子曰、與其進也、不與其退也、唯何甚、人潔己以進、與其潔也、不保其往也。
1. It was difficult to talk (profitably and reputably) with the people of Hu-hsiang, and a lad of that place having had an interview with the Master, the disciples doubted.
2. The Master said, "I admit people's approach to me without committing myself as to what they may do when they have retired. Why must one be so severe? If a man purify himself to wait upon me, I receive him so purified, without guaranteeing his past conduct."
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 互hùmutually, reciprocally
- 鄉xiāngcountry, village; rural
- 難nánhard, difficult, arduous; unable
- 與yǔand; with; to; for; to give, to grant
- 言yánwords, speech; to speak, to say
- 童tóngchild, boy; servant boy; virgin
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 見jiànto see, to observe, to meet, to appear
- 門méngate, door, entrance, opening
- 人rénman, person; people
- 惑huòto confuse, to mislead; to doubt
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 進jìnto advance, to make progress; to come in
- 也yěalso, too
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 退tuìto retreat, to step back, to withdraw
- 唯wéionly; sole
- 何héwhat, why, where, which, how
- 甚shénconsiderably; very, extremely; a great e
- 潔jiéclean, pure; to purify, to cleanse
- 己jǐself, oneself; personal, private; 6th he
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 保bǎoto safeguard, to protect, to defend, to
- 往wǎngto go, to depart; past, former
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.