9.1  Master Kong seldom talked about profit, destiny (ming 命, “the Mandate of Heaven”), and humanity.¹

子罕言利，與命，與仁。

9.3  Master Kong said: The linen cap is prescribed by the rules of ceremony (li 禮) but nowadays a silk one is worn. It is economical and I follow the common practice. Bowing below the hall is prescribed by the rules of ceremony, but nowadays people bow after ascending the hall. This is arrogant, and I follow the practice of bowing below the hall though that is opposed to the common practice.

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  Master Kong was completely free from four things: He had no arbitrariness of opinion, no dogmatism, no obstinacy, and no egotism.

子絕四：毋意，毋必，毋固，毋我。

9.5  When Master Kong was in personal danger in Kuang², he said: Since the death of King Wen³, is not the course of culture (wen 文) in my keeping? If it had been the will of Heaven to destroy this culture, it would not have been given to a mortal [like me]. But if it is the will of Heaven that this culture should not perish, 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  A great official asked Zigong: Is the Master a sage? How is it that he has so much ability [in practical, specific things]?

Zigong said: Certainly Heaven has endowed him so liberally that he is to become a sage, and furthermore he has much ability.

When Master Kong heard this, he said: Does the great official know me? When I was young, I was in humble circumstances, and therefore I acquired much ability to do the simple things of humble folk. Does a superior man need to have so much ability? He does not.

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。」

9.7  Lao said: The Master said, “I have not been given official employment and therefore I [acquired the ability] for the simple arts.”

牢曰：「子云，『吾不試，故藝』。」

9.14  Master Kong wanted to live among the nine barbarous tribes of the East.

Someone said: They are rude. How can you do it?

Kongzi said: If a superior man lives there, 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  Master Kong, standing by a stream, said: It passes on like this, never ceasing day or night!

子在川上，曰：「逝者如斯夫！不舍晝夜。」

9.25  Master Kong said: The commander of three armies may be taken away, but the will of even a common man may not be taken away from him.

子曰：「三軍可奪帥也，匹夫不可奪志也。」