Legge Translation (1861)

Zilu asked whether he should immediately carry into practice what he heard. The Master said: "There are your father and elder brothers to be consulted; — why should you act on that principle of immediately carrying into practice what you hear?"

Ran You asked the same, whether he should immediately carry into practice what he heard, and the Master answered: "Immediately carry into practice what you hear."

Gongxi Hua said: "Yu asked whether he should carry immediately into practice what he heard, and you said, 'There are your father and elder brothers to be consulted.' Qiu asked whether he should immediately carry into practice what he heard, and you said, 'Immediately carry it into practice.' I am perplexed, and venture to ask you for an explanation."

The Master said: "Qiu is retiring and slow; therefore, I urged him forward. Yu has more than his own share of energy; therefore, I kept him back."