1.10 子禽问于子贡曰1:“夫子至于是邦也2,必闻其政3。求之与?抑与之与?”子贡曰:“夫子温、良、恭、俭、让以得之。夫子之求之也,其诸异乎人之求之与4?”

【译文】

子禽向子贡问道:“夫子每到一个国家,必定获知这个国家的政事。是他自己求得的呢?还是别人主动提供予他的?”子贡说:“夫子是以温和、善良、恭敬、节俭、谦让的德行而得知国家政事的。夫子求得政事的方式,应是不同于别人求取的方式吧?”

【YZG解释】

子禽请教子贡:“夫子每至一国,必然得知该国的政事。这是他自己求得的呢,还是别人主动提供给他的呢?”子贡道:“夫子是通过温和、善良、恭敬、节俭、谦让这些品德来获知国家政事的。夫子获知政事的方式,应该与别人的方式不一样吧?”


【YZG English Translation】

The Zi Qin asked Zi Gong5: “When Confucius visited a state, he was definitely aware of the state’s political affairs. I wonder whether the information of all these affairs was obtained by himself or provided by others.” Zi Gong replied: “Confucius obtained the information through his virtues of gentleness, kindness, respect, frugality, and courtliness. The way of Confucius’s learning about the information of political affairs is different from that of others, isn’t it?”

【Note】

注释

  1. 子禽:陈亢,字子禽。子贡:孔子学生。姓端木,名赐,字子贡。

  2. 夫子:古代对男子的敬称。这里指孔子。

  3. 闻:听见,知悉。

  4. 其诸:语气词,表示推测。

  5. Zi Qin (子禽), named Chen Kang (陈亢),courtesy name Zi Qin (子禽); Zi Gong (子贡):Surname Duang Mu (端木),given name Ci (赐),courtesy name Zi Gong (子贡). Both of them are student of Confucius.