Book 3: 《八佾》 Ba Yi (Eight Rows)
《八佾》 Passage 3.26
子曰：「居上不寬，為禮不敬，臨喪不哀，吾何以觀之哉？」
Legge Translation (1861)
The Master said: "High station filled without indulgent generosity; ceremonies performed without reverence; mourning conducted without sorrow; — wherewith should I contemplate such ways?"Word by word
- 子曰 zǐ yuē
the Master said
- 子 the Master, honorific title for Confucius
- 曰 said, spoke
- 居上 jū shàng
to hold high position, occupy high office
- 居 to occupy, hold, dwell in (a position)
- 上 high, superior; a position of authority
- 不 bù
not
- 寬 kuān
tolerant, magnanimous, lenient
- 為禮 wéi lǐ
to perform ritual, carry out the rites
- 為 to perform, carry out, do
- 禮 ritual, the rites; proper ceremonial conduct
- 不 bù
not
- 敬 jìng
respectful, reverent
- 臨喪 lín sāng
to attend, oversee mourning rites
- 臨 to attend, oversee, be present at
- 喪 mourning, funeral rites
- 不 bù
not
- 哀 āi
sorrowful, grieving
- 吾 wú
I, me
- 何以…哉 hé yǐ … zāi
what... by what means...?!, rhetorical question of incredulity/reproach
- 何 what, how, by what
- 以 by means of; paired with 何 to ask how or by what
- 哉 final exclamatory/interrogative particle
Literally 'by what would I observe this' — a rhetorical question implying there is nothing left worth watching.
- 觀 guān
to see, observe, look upon
- 之 zhī
it, such (referring to the conduct/person just described)
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