6.7  Master Kong said: About Yan Hui, for three months there would be nothing in his mind contrary to humanity. The others could (or can) attain to this for a day or a month at the most.

子曰：「回也，其心三月不違仁，其餘則日月至焉而已矣。」

6.18  Master Kong said: When substance exceeds refinement (wen 文), one becomes rude. When refinement exceeds substance, one becomes urbane. It is only when one’s substance and refinement are properly blended that he becomes a superior man.

子曰：「質勝文則野，文勝質則史。文質彬彬，然後君子。」

6.19  Master Kong said: Man is born with uprightness. If one loses it he will be lucky if he escapes with his life.

子曰：「人之生也直，罔之生也幸而免。」

6.20  Master Kong said: To know it [learning or the Way] is not as good as to love it, and to love it is not as good as to take delight in it.

子曰：「知之者不如好之者，好之者不如樂之者。」

6.21  Master Kong said: To those who are above average, one may talk of the higher things, but may not do so to those who are below average.

子曰：「中人以上，可以語上也；中人以下，不可以語上也。」

6.22  Fan Chi asked about wisdom (zhi 知).

Master Kong said: Devote yourself earnestly to the duties due to men, and respect spiritual beings but keep them at a distance. This may be called wisdom.

Fan Chi asked about humanity (ren 仁).

Master Kong said: The man of humanity first of all considers what is difficult in the task and then thinks of success. Such a man may be called humane.

樊遲問知。子曰：「務民之義，敬鬼神而遠之，可謂知矣。」問仁。曰：「仁者先難而後獲，可謂仁矣。」

6.23  Master Kong said: The man of wisdom delights in water; the man of humanity delights in mountains. The man of wisdom is active; the man of humanity is tranquil. The man of wisdom enjoys happiness; the man of humanity enjoys long life.

子曰：「知者樂水，仁者樂山；知者動，仁者靜；知者樂，仁者壽。」

6.25  Master Kong said: When a cornered vessel no longer has any corner, should it be called a cornered vessel? Should it?¹

子曰：「觚不觚，觚哉！觚哉！」

6.27  Master Kong said: The superior man extensively studies literature (wen 文) and restrains himself with the rules of propriety. Thus he will not violate the Way.

子曰：「君子博學於文，約之以禮，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」

6.28  When Master Kong visited Nanzi (the wicked wife of Duke Ling of Wei) [in an attempt to influence her to persuade the duke to effect political reform], Zilu was not pleased.

Kongzi swore an oath and said: If I have said or done anything wrong, may Heaven forsake me! May Heaven forsake me!²

子見南子，子路不說。夫子矢之曰：「予所否者，天厭之！天厭之！」

6.30  Zigong said: If a ruler extensively confers benefit on the people and can bring salvation to all, what do you think of him? Would you call him a man of humanity?

Master Kong said: Why only a man of humanity? He is without doubt a sage. Even (sage-emperors) Yao and Shun fell short of it. A man of humanity, wishing to establish his own character, also establishes the character of others, and wishing to be prominent himself, also helps others to be prominent. To be able to judge others by what is near to ourselves may be called the method of realizing humanity.

子貢曰：「如有博施於民而能濟眾，何如？可謂仁乎？」子曰：「何事於仁，必也聖乎！堯舜其猶病諸！夫仁者，己欲立而立人，己欲達而達人。能近取譬，可謂仁之方也已。」