Legge Translation (1861)

Chen Kang asked Boyu, saying: "Have you heard any lessons from your father different from what we have all heard?"

Boyu replied: "No. He was standing alone once, when I was passing through the court with hasty steps, and said to me, 'Have you read the Odes?' I replied, 'Not yet.' 'If you do not read the Odes,' said he, 'you will not have the pleasure of conversational intercourse.' I retired and read the Odes.

Another day, he was in the same way standing alone, when I passed through the court with hasty steps, and said to me, 'Have you read the rules of Propriety?' I replied, 'Not yet.' 'If you do not learn the rules of Propriety,' said he, 'your character cannot be established.' I retired and learned the rules of Propriety.

I have heard only these two things from him."

Chen Kang retired, and, quite delighted, said: "I asked one thing, and I have got three things. I have heard about the Odes. I have heard about the rules of Propriety. I have also heard that the superior man maintains a distant reserve towards his son."