子路曰，衞君待子而为政，子将奚先。子曰，必也，正名乎。子路曰，有是哉，子之迂也，奚其正。子曰，野哉，由也，君子于其所不知，盖阙如也。名不正，则言不顺，言不顺，则事不成。事不成，则礼乐不兴，礼乐不兴，则刑罚不中，刑罚不中，则民无所措手足。故君子名之必可言也，言之必可行也，君子于其言，无所茍而已矣。

James Legge 英译

1. Tsze-lu said, "The ruler of Wei has been waiting for you, in order with you to administer the government. What will you consider the first thing to be done?" 2. The Master replied, "What is necessary is to rectify names." 3. "So, indeed!" said Tsze-lu. "You are wide of the mark! Why must there be such rectification?" 4. The Master said, "How uncultivated you are, Yu! A superior man, in regard to what he does not know, shows a cautious reserve. 5. "If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success. 6. "When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music will not flourish. When proprieties and music do not flourish, punishments will not be properly awarded. When punishments are not properly awarded, the people do not know how to move hand or foot. 7. "Therefore a superior man considers it necessary that the names he uses may be spoken appropriately, and also that what he speaks may be carried out appropriately. What the superior man requires, is just that in his words there may be nothing incorrect."