The Master said, "The student of virtue has no contentions.
子曰：“君子无所争，
If it be said he cannot avoid them, shall this be in archery?
必也射乎！
But he bows complaisantly to his competitors; thus he ascends the hall, descends, and exacts the forfeit of drinking.
揖让而升，下而饮。
In his contention, he is still the Chun-tsze."
其争也君子。”
Tsze-hsia asked, saying, "What is the meaning of the passage-'The pretty dimples of her artful smile!
子夏问曰：“‘巧笑倩兮，美目盼兮，
The well-defined black and white of her eye! The plain ground for the colors?'"
素以为绚兮’何谓也？”
The Master said, "The business of laying on the colors follows the preparation of the plain ground."
子曰：“绘事后素。”

"Ceremonies then are a subsequent thing?"
曰：“礼后乎？”
The Master said, "It is Shang who can bring out my meaning. Now I can begin to talk about the odes with him."
子曰：“起予者商也，始可与言《诗》已矣。”
The Master said, "I could describe the ceremonies of the Hsia dynasty, but Chi cannot sufficiently attest my words.
子曰：“夏礼吾能言之，杞不足征也；
I could describe the ceremonies of the Yin dynasty, but Sung cannot sufficiently attest my words.
殷礼吾能言之，宋不足征也。
They cannot do so because of the insufficiency of their records and wise men.
文献不足故也，
If those were sufficient, I could adduce them in support of my words."
足则吾能征之矣。”
The Master said, "At the great sacrifice, after the pouring out of the libation, I have no wish to look on."
子曰：“禘自既灌而往者，吾不欲观之矣。”