道不同，不相为谋。Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another.

君子不以言举人，不以人废言。The superior man does not promote a man simply on account of his words, not does he put aside good words because of the man.

工欲善其事，必先利其器。A craftsman¹ who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.

君子和而不同，小人同而不合。The superior man aims at harmony but not at uniformity. The mean man aims at uniformity but not at harmony.

何以报德？以直报怨，以德报德。With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.

其身正，不令而行；其身不正，虽令不从。When a ruler's personal conduct is correct, he will be obeyed without the issuing of orders. If his personal conduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed.

岁寒，然后知松柏之后凋也。Only when the year becomes cold do we know how the pine and the cypress² are the last to fade.

见义不为，无勇也。To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.

见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。When we see men of worth, we should think of equalling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

君子欲讷于言，而敏于行。The superior man wishes to be slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct.

三军可夺师也，匹夫不可夺志也。The commander of the forces of a large state may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.

知者不惑，仁者不忧，勇者不惧。The wise are free from perplexities; the virtuous³ from anxiety; and the bold from fear.

克己复礼为仁。一日克己复礼，天下归仁焉。为仁由己，而由人乎哉。To subdue⁴ one's self and return to propriety⁵, is perfect virtue⁶. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?

君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼。四海之内，皆兄弟也，君子何患乎无兄弟也。Let the superior man never fail reverentially to order his own conduct, and let him be respectful to others and observant of propriety:-- then all within the whole country will be his brothers. What has the superior man to do with being distressed⁷ because he has no brothers?

君子成人之美，不成人之恶，小人反是。The superior man seeks to perfect the admirable qualities of men, and does not seek to perfect their bad qualities. The mean man does the opposite of this.

巧言乱德。小不忍，则乱大谋。Specious⁸ words confound virtue. Want of forbearance in small matters confounds great plans.

欲速则不达，见小利则大事不成。If you have things done hastily, you will not reach the goal. If you only see small gains, you will not accomplish great tasks.

（本文所选语录由英国苏格兰汉学家理雅各先生翻译。理雅各，英文名James Legge，原名詹姆斯·莱格，英国苏格兰汉学家，曾在香港主持英华书院，翻译多本中国古代著作。）