8.4 曾子有疾，孟敬子问之1。曾子言曰：“鸟之将死，其鸣也哀；人之将死，其言也善。君子所贵乎道者三：动容貌，斯远暴慢矣；正颜色，斯近信矣；出辞气，斯远鄙倍矣2。笾豆之事3，则有司存4。”
【译文】
曾子病了，孟敬子去探望他。曾子对他说：“鸟快死了，它的叫声是悲哀的；人快死了，他说的话是善意的。君子所重视的事有三个方面：使自己容貌严肃，就可远离粗暴懈怠；使自己神色端庄，就近于真诚可信；使自己言辞和顺，就可远离粗蛮无理。至于仪礼的具体事宜，自有主管人员去承担。”
【YZG解释】
曾子病了，孟敬子去探望他。曾子对他说：“鸟快死了，它的叫声是悲哀的；人快死了，他说的话是善意的。君子行道所重视三件事：使自己容貌柔和善良，就可避免别人的粗暴放肆；使自己神色端庄，就容易使人相信；使自己言辞和顺得体，就可避免别人的粗蛮无理。至于仪礼的具体事宜，自有主管人员去承担。”
【English Translation】
Zeng Zi1 was sick, and Meng Jing Zi2 went to visit him. Zeng Zi said to him: “When a bird is about to die, its cry is mournful. When a man is about to die, his words are kind. A noble person values three things in practicing the Way: Making his countenance gentle and kind can avoid others’ rudeness and wantonness. Making his expression solemn can make people trust him easily. Making his words mild and proper can avoid others’ rudeness and unreasonableness. As to the specific matters of the rituals, there are people in charge to undertake them.”
【Note】