11.24 季子然问1：“仲由、冉求可谓大臣与？”子曰：“吾以子为异之问，曾由与求之问。所谓大臣者，以道事君，不可则止。今由与求也，可谓具臣矣2。”曰：“然则从之者与？”子曰：“弑父与君3，亦不从也。”
【译文】
季子然问：“仲由、冉求可以算是大臣吗？” 孔子说：“我以为你会问别的人，竟是问由和求啊。所谓大臣，应该用大道来事奉君主，如果行不通，宁可辞职不干。如今由与求啊，只可算是备位充数的臣子罢了。” 季子然又问：“那么他们会一切听从任用他们的人吗？” 孔子说：“弑父弑君的事，他们也不会听从的。”
【YZG解释】
季子然问：“仲由、冉求可以算是大臣吗？” 孔子说：“我以为你会问异乎寻常的问题，竟是问由和求啊。所谓大臣，应该用大道来事奉君主，如果君主没有做到，应加以劝止。如今由与求啊，只可算是备位充数的臣子罢了。” 季子然又问：“那么他们会一切听从任用他们的人吗？” 孔子说：“弑父弑君的事，他们还是不会听从的。”
【English Translation】
Ji Zi Ran asked Confucius: “Can Zhong You and Ran Qiu be considered as ministers?”
Confucius said: “I thought you would ask extraordinary questions, but it turned out to be about Zhong You and Ran Qiu. A so-called minister should serve the monarch with the Way, and if the monarch fails to conform to the Way, he should dissuade the monarch from doing it. Now, Zhong You and Ran Qiu can only be regarded as ministers who fill in the positions.”
Ji Zi Ran further asked: “Will they obey everything of those who appoint them?”
Confucius said: “They will still not obey in the case of killing their father or monarch.”