Book 14: 《憲問》 Xian Wen (Xian Asked)
《憲問》 Passage 14.24
Legge Translation (1861)
The Master said: "In ancient times, men learned with a view to their own improvement. Nowadays, men learn with a view to the approbation of others."Word by word
- 子曰 zǐ yuē
the Master said
- 子 the Master, Confucius
- 曰 said, says
- 古 gǔ
ancient times, antiquity, the past
- 之 zhī
modifying particle: of, 's
- 學者 xué zhě
student, scholar, one who studies
- 學 to learn, study
- 者 nominalizing particle: one who, those who
- 為己 wèi jǐ
for one's own sake, for oneself
- 為 for the sake of, for
- 己 oneself, self
Slingerland, Roberts and Ames & Rosemont render this literally, 'for their own sake'; Legge, Lau, Watson and Chin shift to an interpretive purpose clause, 'to improve/cultivate oneself'; Peimin Ni brackets both.
- 今 jīn
now, the present, today
- 之 zhī
modifying particle: of, 's
- 學者 xué zhě
student, scholar, one who studies
- 學 to learn, study
- 者 nominalizing particle: one who, those who
- 為人 wèi rén
for the sake of others, for others
- 為 for the sake of, for
- 人 other people, others
Ames & Rosemont, Lau, and Watson render this with the outward-facing sense 'to impress,' extending 為人's literal 'for others' toward the motive it implies.
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