13.20 子贡问曰：“何如斯可谓之士矣？”子曰：“行己有耻，使于四方，不辱君命，可谓士矣。” 曰：“敢问其次。”曰：“宗族称孝焉，乡党称弟焉。” 曰：“敢问其次。”曰：“言必信，行必果，硁硁然小人哉1！抑亦可以为次矣。” 曰：“今之从政者何如？”子曰：“噫！斗筲之人2，何足算也！”
【译文】
子贡问道：“怎样才可以称作士？” 孔子说：“对自己的行为能持有羞耻之心，出使外国不辱君主赋予的使命，这样可以称作士了。” 子贡说：“请问次一等的是怎么样？” 孔子说：“宗族中称赞他孝顺，乡里称赞他尊敬长者。” 子贡说：“请问再次一等的呢？” 孔子说：“说话必定有信用，行为必定果决，这是不管是非曲直的固执小人！不过也还可以算作再次一等的士吧。” 子贡说：“现在那些执政者怎么样？” 孔子说：“嘿！都是些器量狭小的人，哪里值得一提呢！”
【YZG解释】
子贡请教：“怎样才可以称作士？” 孔子说：“能够知耻而有所不为，出使外国，不辱君主赋予的使命，发挥才干而有所为，这样可以称作士了。” 子贡说：“请问次一等的标准是什么？” 孔子说：“（虽没有过人才华）被亲戚称赞为孝子，被当地人认为是有兄弟情谊之人。” 子贡说：“请问再次一等的呢？” 孔子说：“言出必然守信，做事一定有始有终，这是如石头一般坚硬而不灵动的固执小人！不过也还可以算作再次一等的士吧。” 子贡说：“现在那些执政者怎么样？” 孔子说：“哎！都是些见识器量狭小的人，哪里值得一提呢！”
【English Translation】
Zi Gong asked Confucius: “How can a person be called a scholar?”
Confucius said: “It is the person who has the sense of shame and refrains from doing what is wrong. When he goes on a foreign mission, he does not dishonor the mission entrusted by the ruler, and makes a significant contribution with his talents. Such a person can be called a scholar.”
Zi Gong said: “May I ask what is the next level?”
Confucius said: “It is the person who is praised as a filial son by his relatives , and regarded as a man with brotherly affection by the locals.”
Zi Gong said: “What about the next level again?”
Confucius said: “It is the person who always keeps his words and finishes what he has started. Although this is a stubborn and inflexible person like a stone, he can still be considered as a scholar of the next level.”
Zi Gong said: “What about those rulers?”
Confucius said: “Alas! They are all people with narrow vision and limited capacity who are not worth mentioning at all!”