Again the disciple asked, "I venture to ask about the class still next in order."
曰:“敢问其次。”
The Master said, "They are determined to be sincere in what they say, and to carry out what they do,
曰:“言必信,行必果,
They are obstinate little men! Yet perhaps they may make the next class."
踁踁然小人哉!抑亦可以为次矣。”
Tsze-kung finally inquired, "Of what sort are those of the present day, who engage in government?"
曰:“今之从政者何如?”
The Master said "Pooh! they are so many pecks and hampers, not worth being taken into account!"
子曰:“噫!斗筲之人,何足算也!”
The Master said, "Since I cannot get men pursuing the due medium, to whom I might communicate my instructions, I must find the ardent and the cautiously-decided!
子曰:“不得中行而与之,必也狂狷乎!
The ardent will advance and lay hold of truth, the cautiously-decided will keep themselves from what is wrong."
狂者进取,狷者有所不为也。”
The Master said, "The people of the south have a saying -'A man without constancy cannot be either a wizard or a doctor.' Good!"
子曰:“南人有言曰:‘人而无恒,不可以作巫医。’善夫!”
"Inconstant in his virtue, he will be visited with disgrace." The Master said, "This arises simply from not attending to the prognostication."
“不恒其德,或承之羞。”子曰:“不占而已矣。”
The Master said, "The superior man is affable, but not adulatory, the mean man is adulatory, but not affable."
子曰:“君子和而不同,小人同而不和。”