11.1 子曰:“先进于礼乐1,野人也2;后进于礼乐,君子也3。如用之,则吾从先进。”
【译文】
孔子说:“先学习礼乐而后做官的,是一般的士人;先有官位而后学习礼乐的,是卿大夫的子弟。如果我选用人才,那么我用先学习礼乐的人。”
【YZG解释】
孔子说:“先辈对礼乐文化,是内心纯然的表达。后辈对于礼乐,则注重文饰,看起来像君子。如果真正实践礼乐,我则遵从先辈。”
【English Translation】
Confucius said: “The elder generations expressed the culture of rites and music with their purity from heart, while the younger generations only focused on the embellishment of the rites and music and seemed like noble persons. When it comes to truly practicing ritual and music, I would follow the elder generations.”