New English translation of Book 4 of the Analects of Confucius. Key themes include goodness, leadership, filial piety, and profit. Latest update: 4 October 2016 For more information, please visit www.brownbeat.net.

1. The Analects of Confucius
Book 4
論語
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2. Key Themes
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Book 4Leadership Filial Piety
Profit
Goodness

3. Supporting Cast
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Disciples
• Zengzi / 曾子
• Ziyou / 子游

4. Chapter I
Confucius said: “It is beautiful to live in a neighborhood that is filled
with goodness. How can someone be wise if they choose to live in a
place that lacks goodness?”
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子曰：「里仁為美。擇不處仁，焉得知？」
Book 4, The Analects

5. Chapter II
Confucius said: “A man who lacks goodness cannot endure adversity or
enjoy happiness for long. A man who possesses goodness finds
contentment in it, whereas a clever man only pursues goodness because
he believes he will profit from it.”
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子曰：「不仁者，不可以久處約，不可以長處樂。
仁者安仁，知者利仁。」
Book 4, The Analects

6. Chapter III
Confucius said: “Only a truly good man can love people and detest
people.”
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子曰：「惟仁者，能好人，能惡人。」
Book 4, The Analects

7. Chapter IV
Confucius said: “Dedicating yourself to the pursuit of goodness allows
no scope for evil.”
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子曰：「苟志於仁矣，無惡也。」
Book 4, The Analects

8. Chapter V Part 1
Confucius said: “Wealth and status are what all men desire; but if they
can only obtain them through improper ways, they should not pursue
them. Poverty and obscurity are what all men detest; but if they can
only escape from them through improper ways, they should accept
them."
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子曰：「富與貴，是人之所欲也，不以其道得之，
不處也。貧與賤，是人之惡也，
不以其道得之，不去也。」
Book 4, The Analects

9. Chapter V Part 2
If a leader abandons goodness, how can he live up to that name? A
leader never abandons goodness, even for as long as it takes to eat a
single meal; in moments of haste and confusion he still stays true to it.”
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「君子去仁，惡乎成名。君子無終食之間違仁，
造次必於是，顛沛必於是。」
Book 4, The Analects

10. Chapter VI Part 1
Confucius said: “I have never seen a man who truly loves goodness and
truly detests evil. A man who truly loves goodness would place nothing
above it; a man who truly detests evil would practice goodness in such a
way that he would allow no evil to enter him.
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子曰：「我未見好仁者，惡不仁者。好仁者，
無以尚之；惡不仁者，其為仁矣，
不使不仁者加乎其身。」
Book 4, The Analects

11. Chapter VI Part 2
Is there anyone with the ability to devote all his strength to goodness
for a single day? I have never seen anyone whose strength is not
sufficient. There may be men who do not have even the small amount
of strength it takes, but I have never seen them.”
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「有能一日用其力於仁矣乎？我未見力不足者。
蓋有之矣，我未之見也。」
Book 4, The Analects

12. Chapter VII
Confucius said: “Men define themselves by their faults.
By observing their faults, you will understand the true extent of
their goodness.”
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子曰：「人之過也，各於其黨。觀過，斯知仁矣。」
Book 4, The Analects

13. Chapter VIII
Confucius said: “Know the Way in the morning;
die without regret in the evening.”
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子曰：「朝聞道，夕死可矣！」
Book 4, The Analects

14. Chapter IX
Confucius said: “A scholar-official who sets his heart on the Way but
is ashamed of his threadbare clothes and coarse food
is not worth listening to.”
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子曰：「士志於道，而恥惡衣惡食者，
未足與議也！」
Book 4, The Analects

15. Chapter X
Confucius said: “In dealing with the world, a leader has no prejudice or
bias: he takes the side of what is right.”
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子曰：「君子之於天下也，無適也，無莫也，
義之於比。」
Book 4, The Analects

16. Chapter XI
Confucius said: “A leader cherishes virtue; a small-minded man
cherishes land. A leader cherishes respect for the law;
a small-minded man cherishes exemptions from it.”
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子曰：「君子懷德，小人懷土；君子懷刑，
小人懷惠。」
Book 4, The Analects

17. Chapter XII
Confucius said: “Men who act out of self-interest cause
great resentment.”
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子曰：「放於利而行，多怨。」
Book 4, The Analects

18. Chapter XIII
Confucius said: “If a ruler is able to govern a state by observing the
rites and showing deference, what difficulties will he encounter?
If a ruler is unable to govern a state by observing the rites and
showing deference, what use are the rites to him?”
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子曰：「能以禮讓為國乎，
何有！不能以禮讓為國，如禮何！」
Book 4, The Analects

19. Chapter XIV
Confucius said: “Don’t be concerned if you don’t have an official
position; be concerned if you don’t deserve such a position.
Don’t be concerned if you’re not famous;
be concerned if you don’t deserve to be famous.”
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子曰：「不患無位，患所以立；
不患莫己知，求為可知也。」
Book 4, The Analects

20. Chapter XV
Confucius said: “Shen, my doctrine is all woven into a single thread.”
Zengzi replied: “Indeed.” After Confucius had left, the other disciples
asked: “What did he mean?” Zengzi said: “The doctrine of the Master
is based on loyalty and reciprocity; that and nothing more.”
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子曰：「參乎！吾道一以貫之。」
曾子曰：「唯。」子出。門人問曰：「何謂也？」
曾子曰：「夫子之道，忠恕而已矣。」
Book 4, The Analects

21. Chapter XVI
Confucius said: “A leader is concerned about what is right;
a small-minded man is concerned about what is in his own interest.”
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子曰：「君子喻於義，小人喻於利。」
Book 4, The Analects

22. Chapter XVII
Confucius said: “When you see someone who is worthy,
think how you can become their equal.
When you see someone who is unworthy,
look inside and examine yourself.”
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子曰：「見賢思齊焉，見不賢而內自省也。」
Book 4, The Analects

23. Chapter XVIII
Confucius said: “When serving your parents, you may gently
remonstrate with them. If you see that they’re not following your
advice, remain respectful and do not contradict them.
Don’t let your efforts turn to resentment.”
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子曰：「事父母幾諫，見志不從，
又敬不違，勞而不怨。」
Book 4, The Analects

24. Chapter XIX
Confucius said: “While your parents are alive, do not travel far.
If you do have to travel, you must keep to a fixed itinerary.”
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子曰：「父母在，不遠遊，遊必有方。」
Book 4, The Analects

25. Chapter XX
Confucius said: “If for three years after his death the son does not
alter his father’s ways, he is a good son indeed.”
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子曰：「三年無改於父之道，可謂孝矣。」
Book 4, The Analects

26. Chapter XXI
Confucius said: “Always keep the age of your parents in mind.
Let this knowledge be both a source of joy and dread.”
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子曰：「父母之年，不可不知也：
一則以喜，一則以。」
Book 4, The Analects

27. Chapter XXII
Confucius said: “Men in ancient times were reluctant to speak,
fearing disgrace if their actions did not match their words.”
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子曰：「古者言之不出，恥躬之不逮也。」
Book 4, The Analects

28. Chapter XXIII
Confucius said: “Restraint seldom leads to losses.”
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子曰：「以約失之者，鮮矣。」
Book 4, The Analects

29. Chapter XXIV
Confucius said: “A leader should be slow to speak and prompt to act.”
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子曰：「君子欲訥於言，而敏於行。」
Book 4, The Analects

30. Chapter XXV
Confucius said: “Virtue never stands alone; it always has neighbors.”
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子曰：「德不孤，必有鄰。」
Book 4, The Analects

31. Chapter XXVI
Ziyou said: “In the service of a lord officiousness inevitably brings
disgrace; in the company of friends, it brings estrangement.”
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子游曰：「事君數，斯辱矣；朋友數，斯疏矣。」
Book 4, The Analects

32. Appendix
Book 4
論語
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33. Appearance Analysis
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Confucius (子) Zengzi (曾子) Ziyou (子游)
Chapter I Y
Chapter II Y
Chapter III Y
Chapter IV Y
Chapter V Y
Chapter VI Y
Chapter VII Y
Chapter VIII Y
Chapter IX Y
Chapter X Y
Chapter XI Y
Chapter XII Y
Chapter XIII Y
Chapter XIV Y
Chapter XV Y Y
Chapter XVI Y
Chapter XVII Y
Chapter XVIII Y
Chapter XIX Y
Chapter XX Y
Chapter XXI Y
Chapter XXII Y
Chapter XXIII Y
Chapter XXIV Y
Chapter XXV Y
Chapter XXVI Y
Appearances (no) 25 1 1
Appearances (%) 96.15% 3.85% 3.85%

34. Themes Analysis
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Leader
(君子)
Learning
(學)
Governance
(政)
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V Y
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X Y
Chapter XI Y
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI Y
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV Y
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Appearances (no) 5 0 0
Appearances (%) 19.23% 0.00% 0.00%

35. Primary Values Analysis
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Goodness
(仁)
Virtue
(德)
Rites
(禮)
Chapter I Y
Chapter II Y
Chapter III Y
Chapter IV Y
Chapter V Y
Chapter VI Y
Chapter VII Y
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI Y
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII Y
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV Y
Chapter XXVI
Appearances (no) 7 2 1
Appearances (%) 26.92% 7.69% 3.85%

36. Secondary Values Analysis
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Filial Piety
(孝)
Loyalty
(忠)
Trustworthiness
(信)
Rightness
(義)
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X Y
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV Y
Chapter XVI Y
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX Y
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Appearances (no) 1 1 0 2
Appearances (%) 3.85% 3.85% 0.00% 7.69%