19.12 子游曰：“子夏之门人小子，当洒扫应对进退，则可矣，抑末也。本之则无，如之何？” 子夏闻之，曰：“噫！言游过矣！君子之道，孰先传焉？孰后倦焉1？譬诸草木，区以别矣。君子之道，焉可诬也？有始有卒者，其惟圣人乎！”
【译文】
子游说：“子夏的这些学生啊，让他们担当洒水扫地及以言辞仪容应对宾客，那是可以的，但这只是细枝末节罢了。至于根本的道理却没有学到，这怎么行呢？” 子夏听到了这番话，说：“咳！言游的话错了！君子之道，哪里是什么内容一定先传授？什么内容放在后面就倦于教诲？其实就像草木，是要对不同种类加以区别的。君子之道，怎么可以欺诬？而能对道按本末顺序、有始有终贯通的，大概只有圣人了！”
【YZG解释】
子游说：“子夏的这些学生啊，让他们担当洒扫、应对、进退上，是可以的，但这只是细枝末节罢了。至于根本的道理却没有学到，应该怎么办呢？” 子夏听后，说：“咳！言游的话错了！君子之道，哪些内容一定先传授？哪些内容放在后面传授呢？其实就像草木，是要对不同种类加以区别的。君子之道，怎么可以欺诬？而能对道按本末顺序、有始有终贯通，让学生由本及末都领悟的，大概只有圣人了！”
【English Translation】
Zi You1 said: “As for the students of Zi Xia, they can take charge of sweeping, responding, but these are just minor details. They haven’t yet learnt the fundamental principles. What should we do?”
After hearing this, Zi Xia2 said: “Alas! Zi You was wrong! In the way of a noble person, which contents must be taught first? And which contents should be taught later? In fact, like plants, different types need to be treated differently. How can the way of a noble person be deceived? Probably only a sage can thoroughly understand the Way in the order of root and branch, from beginning to end, and also make the students understand it from the root to the branch.”
【Note】