5.19 子张问曰：“令尹子文三仕为令尹1，无喜色；三已之，无愠色。旧令尹之政，必以告新令尹。何如？”子曰：“忠矣。”曰：“仁矣乎？”曰：“未知，焉得仁？”“崔子弑齐君2，陈文子有马十乘3，弃而违之4。至于他邦，则曰：‘犹吾大夫崔子也。’违之。之一邦，则又曰：‘犹吾大夫崔子也。’违之。何如？”子曰：“清矣。”曰：“仁矣乎？”曰：“未知，焉得仁？”
【译文】
子张问道：“令尹子文数次担任令尹，没显出高兴的样子，数次被罢免，也没显出怨恨的样子。他还必定把自己任令尹的政事告诉接替他的新令尹。他这个人怎么样呢？” 孔子说：“这人忠啊。” 子张问：“可以说是仁吗？” 孔子说：“不知道，但怎么能算仁呢？” 子张又问：“崔子杀了齐庄公，陈文子虽有四十匹马，却舍弃不要，离开了齐国。到了别的国家，他说：‘这里的执政者同我们齐国的大夫崔子一样。’又离去。再到一个国家，又说：‘这里的执政者同我们齐国的大夫崔子一样。’还是离去。他这个人怎么样呢？” 孔子说：“这人清啊。” 子张问：“可以说是仁吗？” 孔子说：“不知道，但怎么能算仁呢？”
【YZG解释】
子张问道：“令尹子文数次担任令尹， 他却并没有沾沾自喜的样子，数次被罢免，也没显出怨恨的样子。他还必定把自己任令尹的政事告诉接替他的新令尹。他这个人怎么样呢？” 孔子说：“这人忠啊。” 子张问：“可以说是仁吗？” 孔子说：“不知道，不能这样就算仁吧？” 子张又问：“崔子杀了齐庄公，陈文子虽有四十匹马，却舍弃不要，离开了齐国。到了别的国家，他说：‘这里的执政者同我们齐国的大夫崔子一样。’又离去。再到一个国家，又说：‘这里的执政者同我们齐国的大夫崔子一样。’还是离去。他这个人怎么样呢？” 孔子说：“这人清啊。” 子张问：“可以说是仁吗？” 孔子说：“不知道，不能这样就算仁吧？”
【English Translation】
Zi Zhang asked Confucius: “Zi Wen1 served as prime minister several times, but he did not look complacent, and although he was dismissed several times, he did not look resentful. He also definitely told the next minister who succeeded his position about the political affairs of his term of office. What do you think of him?” Confucius said: “This man is loyal.” Zi Zhang asked: “Can I say he is benevolent?” Confucius said: “I don’t know, you can’t consider it benevolence, can you?” Zi Zhang asked again: “Cui Zi2 killed the monarch Duke Zhuang of Qi3. Therefore, although Chen Wen Zi4 had forty horses, he abandoned them and left the state of Qi. When he went to another state, he said: ‘The ruler here is the same as Cui Zi.’ and he left. Then he went to another state and also said: ‘The ruler here is the same as Cui Zi.’, and he left again. What do you think of him?” Confucius said: “He kept his integrity.” Zi Zhang asked: “Can I say he is benevolent?” Confucius said: “I don’t know, you can’t consider it benevolence, can you?”
【Note】