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Hsien Tsin / 11

季路问事鬼神。子曰，未能事人，焉能事鬼。敢问死。曰，未知生，焉知死。

Modern Chinese Guide

季路问怎样侍奉鬼神。孔子说：连活人都还不能侍奉好，怎么谈得上侍奉鬼神？季路又说：我大胆地问一问死是怎么回事。孔子说：连生的道理都还不明白，又怎么能明白死呢？

James Legge Translation

Chi Lu asked about serving the spirits of the dead. The Master said, "While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits?" Chi Lu added, "I venture to ask about death?" He was answered, "While you do not know life, how can you know about death?"

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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