The Master said, "My doctrines make no way. I will get upon a raft, and float about on the sea. He that will accompany me will be Yu, I dare say."
子曰:“道不行,乘桴浮于海,从我者其由与?”
Tsze-lu hearing this was glad, upon which the Master said, "Yu is fonder of daring than I am. He does not exercise his judgment upon matters."
子路闻之喜,子曰:“由也好勇过我,无所取材。”
Mang Wu asked about Tsze-lu, whether he was perfectly virtuous.
孟武伯问:“子路仁乎?”
The Master said, "I do not know."
子曰:“不知也。”
He asked again, when the Master replied, "In a kingdom of a thousand chariots, Yu might be employed to manage the military levies,
又问,子曰:“由也,千乘之国,可使治其赋也,
but I do not know whether he be perfectly virtuous."
不知其仁也。”
"And what do you say of Ch'iu?"
“求也何如?”
The Master replied, "In a city of a thousand families, or a clan of a hundred chariots, Ch'iu might be employed as governor,
子曰:“求也,千室之邑、百乘之家,可使为之宰也,
but I do not know whether he is perfectly virtuous."
不知其仁也。”
"What do you say of Ch'ih?"
“赤也何如?”
The Master replied, "With his sash girt and standing in a court, Ch'ih might be employed to converse with the visitors and guests,
子曰:“赤也,束带立于朝,可使与宾客言也,
but I do not know whether he is perfectly virtuous."
不知其仁也。”
The Master said to Tsze-kung, "Which do you consider superior, yourself or Hui?"
子谓子贡曰:“女与回也孰愈?”
Tsze-kung replied, "How dare I compare myself with Hui?
对曰:“赐也何敢望回?
Hui hears one point and knows all about a subject; I hear one point, and know a second."
回也闻一以知十,赐也闻一以知二。”
The Master said, "You are not equal to him. I grant you, you are not equal to him."
子曰:“弗如也,吾与女弗如也!”