9.1 The Master seldom spoke of profit, destiny, and humanity.

子罕言利與命與仁。

9.3 Master Kong said, “The linen cap is prescribed by the rites, but nowadays a silk one is worn. It is economical, and I follow the common practice. Bowing below the hall is prescribed by the rites, but nowadays people bow after ascending the hall. It is arrogant, and although it goes against the common practice, I follow the rule of bowing below the hall.”

子曰：「麻冕，禮也；今也純，儉。吾從眾。拜下，禮也；今拜乎上，泰也。雖違眾，吾從下。」

9.4 The Master was entirely free from four things: he had no arbitrary will, no insistence, no obstinacy, and no egotism.

子絕四：毋意，毋必，毋固，毋我。

9.5 The Master was on his guard in Kuang. He said, “Since the death of King Wen, does not culture (wen) rest here in me? If Heaven had intended to destroy this culture, I, who have outlived King Wen, could not have taken part in it. Since Heaven has not yet destroyed this culture, what can the people of Kuang do to me?”

子畏於匡。曰：「文王既沒，文不在茲乎？天之將喪斯文也，後死者不得與於斯文也；天之未喪斯文也，匡人其如予何？」

9.6 The Grand Minister asked Zigong, “Is your Master a sage? How many abilities he has!” Zigong said, “Certainly Heaven has set no limit on him, and he is all but a sage. He has many abilities besides.” When the Master heard of this, he said, “Does the Grand Minister know me? In my youth I was of humble station, and for this reason I acquired many abilities in menial tasks. Does the noble person need many abilities? He does not.” Pupil Lao said, “The Master used to say, ‘I was not employed in office, which is the reason I am now skilled in the arts.’”

大宰問於子貢曰：「夫子聖者與？何其多能也！」子貢曰：「固天縱之將聖，又多能也。」子聞之，曰：「大宰知我乎？吾少也賤，故多能鄙事。君子多乎哉？不多也。」牢曰：「子云，『吾不試，故藝』。」

9.13 The Master wished to go and live among the nine barbarian tribes. Someone said, “They are rude. How can you do it?” Master Kong said, “If a noble person lives among them, what rudeness would there be?”

子欲居九夷。或曰：「陋，如之何！」子曰：「君子居之，何陋之有？」

9.16 The Master, standing by a stream, said, “All that passes on is like this, never ceasing day or night!”

子在川上，曰：「逝者如斯夫！不舍晝夜。」

9.25 The Master said, “The three armies may be robbed of their commander, but even a common man cannot be robbed of his will.”

子曰：「三軍可奪帥也，匹夫不可奪志也。」