Motivation

子曰：君子谋道不谋食。

zǐ  yuē jūn   zǐ móu  dào  bù móu  shí  

耕也馁在其中矣，

gēng yě   něi  zài  qí zhōng  yǐ

学也禄在其中矣。

xué yě    lù   zài qí  zhōng yǐ  

君子忧道不忧贫。

jūn   zǐ yōu  dào   bù yōu  pín

子曰 - The Master said:

君子 - The Superior Person

谋道 - strives for the Dao (Way of Truth/Righteousness)

不谋食 - not strive for food

耕也 - to engage in agriculture

馁 - hunger

在其中- includes
矣 -  declarative tone, used to indicate "already".

学也 - to learn
禄 - tribute given to a Government official

在其中- includes 

矣- declarative tone, used to indicate "already".

君子 - The Superior Person

忧道 - is concerned about (not measuring up to) the Dao

不忧贫 - not worried about poverty

The Master said: "The Superior Person is motivated by principles and not 'bread and butter issues'.  Farmers can still be hungry and those who study can prosper by becoming a Government official. However, the Superior Person is concerned about Integrity and not about poverty. - Analects 15:32

Unwholesome Company

 子曰：群居终日，

zǐ  yuē qún  jū  zhōngrì   

言不及义，

yán  bù   jí yì  

好行小慧，

hào  xíngxiǎo  huì  

难矣哉！

nán yǐ zāi

 

 

子曰 - The Master said

群居 - a group/clique

终日- whole day

言不 - without mentioning

及 - extend, reach

义- Righteousness

好行 - inclined towards practicing

小慧 - shallow cleverness

难 - difficult/problematic

矣 - already (declarative tone)

哉 - indeed! (exclamation)

 

 

The Master said: "A clique that spends a whole day together without mentioning Righteousness and delighting in shallow cleverness - such people are problematic indeed!" - Analects 15:17

Simple Joys

  

子曰：饭疏食饮水，

zǐ  yuē  fàn  shū  shí  yǐn  shuǐ  

曲肱而枕之，

qǔ  gōng ér  zhěn zhī 

乐亦在其中矣。

lè    yì  zài qí  zhōng yǐ 

不义而富且贵，

bù  yì  ér  fù   qiě  guì 

于我如浮云。

yú  wǒ   rú  fú  yún
 

子曰 - The Master said

饭疏食 - eat coarse rice

饮水 - drink water

曲肱 - bended elbow

而枕之 - to use as a pillow

乐亦在其中- it is also joyful

矣 - already (declarative tone)

不义 - improper/unrighteous

而富且贵，- to be wealthy and noble

于我 - to me

如浮云 - as floating clouds

The Master said: "Eating coarse rice, drinking water and relaxing with a bended elbow as my pillow. These are sufficient to bring joy for me! Wealth and position obtained through improper means are as distant to me as clouds floating in the sky." - Analects 7:16

No Point Discussing

 

子曰：士志于道，

zǐ yuē shi zhi yu dao

而耻恶衣恶食者，

ér chǐ è  yī è  shí zhě

未足与议也。

wèi zú yǔ yì yě
 

子曰 - The Master said

士- gentry scholars

志于道 - aspires to the Dao

而耻恶衣 - and is ashamed of inferior clothes

恶食者 - eating inferior food

未足 - is not worthy

与议也 - discuss with

The Master said: "The scholar who embarks on the journey of learning but who is ashamed of wearing low quality clothes and eating cheap food is not worth having a discussion with." - Analects 4:9 

The Qualities of a Studious Person

子曰：君子食无求饱，

zǐ   yuē   jūn  zǐ   shí  wú qiú   bǎo    

居无求安，

jū   wú  qiú  ān  

敏于事而慎于言，

mǐn  yú   shì  ér  shèn yú  yán    

就有道而正焉。

jiù  yǒu  dào  ér  zhèng yān    

可谓好学也已。

kě   wèi  hào  xué  yě   yǐ

子曰 - The Master said

君子- The Superior Person

食 - consumes food

无求饱 -  does not crave to be full

居 - Resides

无求安 - does not crave comfort

敏 - sensitive

于事 - towards matters

而 - and

慎于言 - cautious in speech

就有道 - to seek learning from the virtuous

而正焉 - and rectify themselves

可谓 - can be rightfully known as

好学 - studious
也已 - indeed

 

The Master said: "The Superior Person is not a glutton who craves for a comfortable lifestyle. He is sensitive in handling matters and cautious in his speech. He cultivates himself by learning from the virtuous. Such a person can rightfully be said to be studious."- Analects 1:14