19.25 陈子禽谓子贡曰：“子为恭也，仲尼岂贤于子乎？” 子贡曰：“君子一言以为知，一言以为不知，言不可不慎也。夫子之不可及也，犹天之不可阶而升也。夫子之得邦家者，所谓立之斯立，道之斯行，绥之斯来，动之斯和。其生也荣，其死也哀，如之何其可及也？”
【译文】
陈子禽对子贡说：“你不过是恭谦吧，难道仲尼真比你优秀吗？” 子贡说：“君子可由一句话显出他的聪明，也可由一句话显出他的无知，所以出言不可不谨慎啊。我的老师是不可企及的，犹如天不可用阶梯攀升一样。如果我的老师得国为诸侯，或得封邑为卿大夫，那真如我们所说的，教百姓立身于世，百姓就会立身于世；引导百姓，百姓就前行；安抚百姓，百姓就来归附；鼓动百姓，百姓就齐心协力。他生而享有尊荣，死而令人哀痛，他怎么能够企及呢？”
【YZG解释】
陈子禽对子贡说：“你太谦虚了吧，难道仲尼的贤能真的能超过你吗？” 子贡说：“君子可由一句话显出他的智慧，也可由一句话显出他的无知，所以出言不可不谨慎啊。夫子的境界是不可企及的，就像天一样，不可用阶梯攀登上去。如果我的老师被任命为一国之君，那真如我们所说的，教百姓立身于世，百姓就会立身于世；引导百姓，百姓就跟随前行；安抚近处的百姓，远处的百姓就来归附；动员百姓，百姓就齐心协力地跟随他做事。他生前为全民爱戴，死而令天下哀痛，他怎么能够企及呢？”
【English Translation】
Chen Zi Qin1 said to Zi Gong2: “You are too modest. Can Confucius really surpass you in virtue?”
Zi Gong said: “A noble person can show his wisdom or ignorance only by his one sentence, so we must be cautious in speaking. The realm of my teacher is unreachable, just like the sky, which cannot be climbed by a ladder. If my teacher is appointed as the ruler of a State, as we said, when he teaches the people to establish themselves in the world, the people will establish themselves. When he guides the people, the people will follow. If he comforts the people nearby, the people far away will come to submit to the authority. If he mobilizes the people, the people will work together with one mind to follow him. He was loved by all people during his lifetime and also made the whole world sorrowful about his death. How could he be reachable?”
【Note】