Kung-ye Ch'ang / 9
宰予昼寝。子曰，朽木不可雕也，粪土之墙，不可杇也，于予与何诛。子曰，始吾于人也，听其言而信其行，今吾于人也，听其言而观其行，于予与改是。
Modern Chinese Guide
宰予白天睡觉。孔子说：腐朽的木头没法雕刻，粪土一样的墙壁没法粉刷。对于宰予这样的人，还责备他什么呢？孔子又说：起初我对于一个人，是听了他的话就相信他的行为；如今我对于一个人，是听了他的话还要观察他的行为。是宰予让我改变了这种态度。
James Legge Translation
1. Tsai Yu being asleep during the daytime, the Master said, "Rotten wood cannot be carved; a wall of dirty earth will not receive the trowel. This Yu!—what is the use of my reproving him?" 2. The Master said, "At first, my way with men was to hear their words, and give them credit for their conduct. Now my way is to hear their words, and look at their conduct. It is from Yu that I have learned to make this change."
Notes and themes
- 底本：Wikisource 整理的 James Legge《The Chinese Classics》公版中英文本。
- 中文由繁体转为简体，后续白话解释需逐章审校。
- 白话参考底本：《白话论语读本》，张兆瑢、沈元起编译，上海广益书局1948 年新三版。
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