Analects: Book 17Book 17. Yang Ho 陽貨第十七: Yang Huo
[17:1] Yang Ho wished to see Confucius, but Confucius would not go to see him. On this, he sent a present of a pig to Confucius, who, having chosen a time when Ho was not at home, went to pay his respects for the gift. He met him, however, on the way.
Book 17. Yáng Huò 陽貨: Yang Huo
[17:1] Yang Huo (Yang Hu?) wanted to see Confucius, but Confucius refused to see him. He then sent Confucius a suckling pig. Confucius, choosing a time when Yang was not at home, went to express thanks for the gift, but he happened to meet Yang in the street. Addressing Confucius, Yang Huo said, Come — I have something to say to you. You hide in your heart a wealth of talent and yet let your country go astray. Can that be called humaneness? Of course not! You long to hold office and yet time and again miss the chance to do so. Can that be called wisdom? Of course not! The days and months fly by, time does not work in our favor!
Footnotes
[F1] Confucius’s statement on the human condition.
Book 17
[17:1] Yang Huo [F151] wished to see Confucius. Confucius did not go to see him. He sent Confucius a sucking pig. Confucius chose a time when he was out, and went to thank him. They met on the road.
Footnotes
[F151] The all-powerful, unscrupulous minister of the Chi.
Book 17. Yang Huo 陽貨: Yang Huo
[17:1] Yang Huo wanted to see Confucius but Confucius would not see him, so he sent Confucius a piglet as a present. Confucius timed his visit of thanks when Yang Huo was not at home. They happened to meet on the road, and Yang said to Confucius, “Come, I want to have a word with you.” And he said, “Hiding one's treasure in one's bosom and letting one's country lose its way — can such a one be called truly humane?” Confucius responded, “No, he can't.” “Liking to be involved in public affairs but always missing the timing — can he be called wise?” “No, he can't.” “The days and months slip away, and time is not on our side.” Confucius said, “Ok, I'll take the job.” [C1]
Footnotes
[F51] A town in Wei, captured by the Jin.
Commentary[C1] A somewhat unusual narrative in the Analects, as Confucius clearly loses the argument to a higher moral ground, accepting judgment, at the same time admitting his deep desire to serve the government. 陽貨第十七
【第一章】【一節】陽貨欲見孔子、孔子不見、歸孔子豚、孔子時其亡也、而往拜之。遇諸塗。【二節】謂孔子曰、來、予與爾言、曰、懷其寶而迷其邦、可謂仁乎。曰、不可。好從
Confucius (Kǒng Fūzǐ (孔夫子; Kong Qui) traveled the country in an ox cart observing and teaching his numerous disciples on the subjects of civics, ethics, literature, music and science. Of course, he claimed no divine inspiration and so naturally the writings attributed to him, recorded by his disciples, also make no such claim. |