17.2  Master Kong said: By nature men are alike. Through practice they have become far apart.

子曰：「性相近也，習相遠也。」

17.3  Master Kong said: Only the most intelligent and the most stupid do not change.

子曰：「唯上知與下愚不移。」

17.4  Master Kong went to the city of Wu [where his disciple Ziyou was the magistrate] and heard the sound of stringed instruments and singing. With a gentle smile, the Master said: Why use an ox-knife to kill a chicken [that is, why employ a serious measure like music to rule such a small town]?

Ziyou replied: Formerly I heard you say, “When the superior man has studied the Way, he loves men. When the inferior man has studied the Way, he is easy to employ.”

Kongzi said: My disciples, what I just said was only a joke.

子之武城，聞弦歌之聲。夫子莞爾而笑，曰：「割雞焉用牛刀？」子游對曰：「昔者偃也聞諸夫子曰：『君子學道則愛人，小人學道則易使也。』」子曰：「二三子！偃之言是也。前言戲之耳。」

17.6  Zizhang asked Master Kong about humanity (ren 仁).

Kongzi said: One who can practice five things wherever he may be is a man of humanity.

Zizhang asked what the five are.

Kongzi said: Earnestness, liberality, truthfulness, diligence, and generosity. If one is earnest, one will not be treated with disrespect. If one is liberal, one will win the hearts of all. If one is truthful, one will be trusted. If one is diligent, one will be successful. And if one is generous, one will be able to enjoy the service of others.

子張問仁於孔子。孔子曰：「能行五者於天下，為仁矣。」請問之。曰：「恭、寬、信、敏、惠。恭則不侮，寬則得眾，信則人任焉，敏則有功，惠則足以使人。」

17.8  Master Kong said: Zilu, have you heard about the six virtues and the six obscurations?

Zilu replied: I have not.

Kongzi said: Sit down, then. I will tell you. One who loves humanity but not learning will be obscured by ignorance. One who loves wisdom but not learning will be obscured by lack of principle. One who loves faithfulness but not learning will be obscured by heartlessness. One who loves uprightness but not learning will be obscured by violence. One who loves strength of character but not learning will be obscured by recklessness.

子曰：「由也，女聞六言六蔽矣乎？」對曰：「未也。」「居！吾語女。好仁不好學，其蔽也愚；好知不好學，其蔽也蕩；好信不好學，其蔽也賊；好直不好學，其蔽也絞；好勇不好學，其蔽也亂；好剛不好學，其蔽也狂。」

17.9  Master Kong said: My young friends, why do you not study the odes? The odes (Shijing 詩經, “Book of Poetry”) can stimulate your emotions, broaden your observation, enlarge your fellowship, and express your grievances. They help you in your immediate service to your parents and in your more remote service to your rulers. They widen your acquaintance with the names of birds, animals, and plants.

子曰：「小子！何莫學夫詩？詩，可以興，可以觀，可以群，可以怨。邇之事父，遠之事君。多識於鳥獸草木之名。」

17.19  Master Kong said: I do not wish to say anything.

Zigong said: If you do not say anything, what can we little disciples ever learn to pass on to others?

Kongzi said: Does Heaven (Tian 天, Nature) say anything? The four seasons run their course and all things are produced. Does Heaven say anything?

子曰：「予欲無言。」子貢曰：「子如不言，則小子何述焉？」子曰：「天何言哉？四時行焉，百物生焉，天何言哉？」

17.23  Zilu asked: Does the superior man¹ esteem courage?

Master Kong said: The superior man considers righteousness (yi 義) as the most important. When the superior man has courage but no righteousness, he becomes turbulent. When the inferior man has courage but no righteousness, he becomes a thief.

子路曰：「君子尚勇乎？」子曰：「君子義以為上。君子有勇而無義為亂，小人有勇而無義為盜。」

17.25  Master Kong said: Women and servants are most difficult to deal with. If you are familiar with them, they cease to be humble. If you keep a distance from them, they resent it.

子曰：「唯女子與小人為難養也，近之則不孫，遠之則怨。」