13.3  Zilu said: The ruler of Wei is waiting for you to serve in his administration. What will be your first measure?

Master Kong said: It will certainly concern the rectification of names.

Zilu said: Is that so? You are wide of the mark. Why should there be such a rectification?

Kongzi said: Yu! How uncultivated you are! With regard to what he does not know, the superior man should maintain an attitude of reserve. If names are not rectified, then language will not be in accord with truth. If language is not in accord with truth, then things cannot be accomplished. If things cannot be accomplished, then ceremonies and music will not flourish. If ceremonies and music do not flourish, then punishment will not be just. If punishments are not just, then the people will not know how to move hand or foot. Therefore the superior man will give only names that can be described in speech and say only what can be carried out in practice. With regard to his speech, the superior man does not take it lightly. That is all.

子路曰：「衛君待子而為政，子將奚先？」子曰：「必也正名乎！」子路曰：「有是哉，子之迂也！奚其正？」子曰：「野哉由也！君子於其所不知，蓋闕如也。名不正，則言不順；言不順，則事不成；事不成，則禮樂不興；禮樂不興，則刑罰不中；刑罰不中，則民無所措手足。故君子名之必可言也，言之必可行也。君子於其言，無所苟而已矣。」

13.6  Master Kong said: If a ruler sets himself right, he will be followed without his command. If he does not set himself right, even his commands will not be obeyed.¹

子曰：「其身正，不令而行；其身不正，雖令不從。」

13.16  The Duke of She asked about government (zheng 政).

Master Kong said: [There is good government] when those who are near are happy and those far away desire to come.

葉公問政。子曰：「近者說，遠者來。」

13.18  The Duke of She told Master Kong: In my country there is an upright man named Gong. When his father stole a sheep, he bore witness against him.

Kongzi said: The upright men in my community are different from this. The father conceals the misconduct of the son and the son conceals the misconduct of the father. Uprightness is to be found in this.

葉公語孔子曰：「吾黨有直躬者，其父攘羊，而子證之。」孔子曰：「吾黨之直者異於是。父為子隱，子為父隱，直在其中矣。」

13.19  Fan Chi asked about humanity (ren 仁).

Master Kong said: Be respectful in private life, be serious (jing 敬) in handling affairs, and be loyal in dealing with others. Even if you are living amidst barbarians, these principles may never be forsaken.

樊遲問仁。子曰：「居處恭，執事敬，與人忠。雖之夷狄，不可棄也。」

13.23  Master Kong said: The superior man is conciliatory but does not identify himself with others; the inferior man identifies with others but is not conciliatory.²

子曰：「君子和而不同，小人同而不和。」

13.26  Master Kong said: The superior man is dignified but not proud; the inferior man is proud but not dignified.

子曰：「君子泰而不驕，小人驕而不泰。」

13.27  Master Kong said: A man who is strong, resolute, simple, and slow to speak is near to humanity.

子曰：「剛毅、木訥，近仁。」

13.29  Master Kong said: When good men have instructed the people [in morals, agriculture, military tactics] for seven years, they may be allowed to bear arms.

子曰：「善人教民七年，亦可以即戎矣。」

13.30  Master Kong said: To allow people to go to war without first instructing them is to betray them.

子曰：「以不教民戰，是謂棄之。」