3.3. Master Kong said, “If a man is without humanity, what has he to do with ritual? If a man is without humanity, what has he to do with music?”

子曰：「人而不仁，如禮何？人而不仁，如樂何？」

3.4. Lin Fang asked about the foundation of ceremonies. Master Kong said, “A great question indeed! When it comes to ceremonies, rather than being extravagant, it is better to be thrifty. When it comes to funerals, rather than being polished, it is better to be sorrowful.”

林放問禮之本。子曰：「大哉問！禮，與其奢也，寧儉；喪，與其易也，寧戚。」

3.12. He sacrificed to his ancestors as if they were present. He sacrificed to spiritual beings as if the spiritual beings were present. The Master said, “If I do not take part in the sacrifice, it is as if I did not sacrifice at all.”

祭如在，祭神如神在。子曰：「吾不與祭，如不祭。」

3.13. Wangsun Jia asked, “What do you think about the saying, ‘It is better to pay homage to the kitchen stove than to the corner shrine.’” Master Kong said, “It is not so. He who offends against Heaven has none to whom he can pray.”

王孫賈問曰：「與其媚於奧，寧媚於竈，何謂也？」子曰：「不然，獲罪於天，無所禱也。」

3.17. Zigong wanted to do away with the sacrificing of a lamb at the ceremony to announce the new moon. Master Kong said, “Zigong! You love the lamb but I love the ceremony.”

子貢欲去告朔之餼羊。子曰：「賜也，爾愛其羊，我愛其禮。」

3.19. Duke Ding asked how a ruler should employ his ministers and how ministers should serve their ruler. Master Kong replied, “A ruler should employ his ministers according to the rules of propriety, and ministers should serve their ruler with loyalty.”

定公問：「君使臣，臣事君，如之何？」孔子對曰：「君使臣以禮，臣事君以忠。」

3.24. The guardian at Yi requested an audience with Master Kong, saying, “When gentlemen come here, I have never been denied the privilege of seeing them.” The followers of the Master introduced him. When he came out from the interview, he said, “Dear sirs, why are you disheartened by your master’s loss of office? The world has long been without the Way. Heaven is going to use your master as a bell with a wooden tongue.”

儀封人請見。曰：「君子之至於斯也，吾未嘗不得見也。」從者見之。出曰：「二三子，何患於喪乎？天下之無道也久矣，天將以夫子為木鐸。」