The Master said, "Without the specious speech of the litanist T'o and the beauty of the prince Chao of Sung, it is difficult to escape in the present age."
子曰：“不有祝鮀之佞，而有宋朝之美，难乎免于今之世矣。”
The Master said, "Who can go out but by the door? How is it that men will not walk according to these ways?"
子曰：“谁能出不由户？何莫由斯道也？”
The Master said, "Where the solid qualities are in excess of accomplishments, we have rusticity;
子曰：“质胜文则野，
where the accomplishments are in excess of the solid qualities, we have the manners of a clerk.
文胜质则史。
When the accomplishments and solid qualities are equally blended, we then have the man of virtue."
文质彬彬，然后君子。”
The Master said, "Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness, and yet live, his escape from death is the effect of mere good fortune."
子曰：“人之生也直，罔之生也幸而免。”

The Master said, "They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who delight in it."
子曰：“知之者不如好之者；好之者不如乐之者。”
The Master said, "To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced.
子曰：“中人以上，可以语上也；
To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced."
中人以下，不可以语上也。”
Fan Ch'ih asked what constituted wisdom.
樊迟问知，
The Master said, "To give one's self earnestly to the duties due to men,
子曰：“务民之义，
and, while respecting spiritual beings, to keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom."
敬鬼神而远之，可谓知矣。”