Book 5: 《公冶長》 Gong Ye Chang
《公冶長》 Passage 5.8
孟武伯問:「子路仁乎?」子曰:「不知也。」又問。子曰:「由也,千乘之國,可使治其賦也,不知其仁也。」「求也何如?」子曰:「求也,千室之邑,百乘之家,可使為之宰也,不知其仁也。」「赤也何如?」子曰:「赤也,束帶立於朝,可使與賓客言也,不知其仁也。」
Legge Translation (1861)
Meng Wubo asked about Zilu, whether he was perfectly virtuous. The Master said: "I do not know."He asked again, when the Master replied: "In a kingdom of a thousand chariots, Yu might be employed to manage the military levies, but I do not know whether he be perfectly virtuous."
"And what do you say of Qiu?" The Master replied: "In a city of a thousand families, or a clan of a hundred chariots, Qiu might be employed as governor, but I do not know whether he is perfectly virtuous."
"What do you say of Chi?" The Master replied: "With his sash girt and standing in a court, Chi might be employed to converse with the visitors and guests, but I do not know whether he is perfectly virtuous."