8.1. 子曰：“泰伯，其可谓至德也已矣。三以天下让，民无得而称焉。”
Tai Bo, said the Master, might be said to have the highest virtue, for he had thrice renounced the throne. He was beyond the praise of the people.
8.2. 子曰：“恭而无礼则劳;慎而无礼则葸;勇而无礼则乱;直而无礼则绞。君子笃于亲，则民兴于仁;故旧不遗，则民不偷。”
Beyond propriety, said the Master, respect would lead to labor lost, caution to timidity, courage to violence, and even frankness would hurt. If cultured men are affectionate to their kins, then people will be inspired to do good. If old friends are not forgotten, then people will not be negligent.
8.3. 曾子有疾，召门弟子曰：“启予足，启予手。《诗》云：‘战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。’而今而后，吾知免夫，小子!”
When Master Zeng was ill, he summoned his disciples around him and said, “Uncover my feet and uncover my hands! It is said in the Book of Poetry: ‘Be careful as if you did stand On the brink of the gulf of vice Or tread upon the ice!’ From now on, I need not be so careful, my young friends.”
8.4. 曾子有疾，孟敬子问之。曾子言曰：“鸟之将死，其鸣也哀;人之将死，其言也善。君子所贵乎道者三：动容貌，斯远暴慢矣;正颜色，斯近信矣;出辞气，斯远鄙倍矣。笾豆之事，则有司存。”
When Master Zeng was ill, Meng Jing Zi came to inquire after him. Master Zeng said, “When a bird is about to die, its song is mournful. When a man is about to die, what he says is good. In performing the rites, a cultured man will pay attention to three things: how to look inoffensive and respectful, appear trustworthy, and be free from vulgarity in speech. As to sacrificial service, he will leave it to officials in charge.”
8.5. 曾子曰：“以能问于不能;以多问于寡;有若无，实若虚，犯而不校。昔者吾友尝从事于斯矣。”
Master Zeng said,“The capable may consult the incapable, the possessor of much may consult those of little; those who have may appear to have not, those who are full may appear empty; a man may take no care even when he is offended. Such was the way of one of my former friends.”
8.6. 曾子曰：“可以托六尺之孤，可以寄百里之命，临大节而不可夺也。君子人与?君子人也。”
Master Zeng said,“Is he not an intelligentleman who can be entrusted with a helpless orphan prince and the fate of a state, and who dare to face danger without fear? Yes, he is.”
8.7. 曾子曰：“士不可以不弘毅，任重而道远。仁以为己任，不亦重乎?死而后已，不亦远乎?”
Master Zeng said,“An intellectual should be strong and steady, for his duty is heavy and his journey will be long. Is it not a heavy duty to be a man of men? Is his journey not long which will not end until his death?”
8.8. 子曰：“兴于《诗》，立于礼，成于乐。”
A man, said the Master, may be inspired by poetry, established in performing the rites, and perfected by music.
8.9. 子曰：“民可使由之，不可使知之。”
The common people, said the Master, may be made to follow, but not to understand the reason why.
8.10. 子曰：“好勇疾贫，乱也。人而不仁，疾之已甚，乱也。”
If a daring man, said the Master, suffers from poverty, he will disobey the order. If he hates to excess those who are unkind, he will rise in revolt.
8.11. 子曰：“如有周公之才之美，使骄且吝，其余不足观也已。”
If a man, said the Master, is arrogant and narrow-minded, what could we learn from him even if he is gifted as the Duke of Zhou?
8.12. 子曰：“三年学，不至于谷，不易得也。”
It is not easy, said the Master, to find one who has studied for three years without thinking of reward.
8.13. 子曰：“笃信好学，守死善道。危邦不入，乱邦不居。天下有道则见，无道则隐。邦有道，贫且贱焉，耻也;邦无道，富且贵焉，耻也。”
Be firm in belief and fond of learning, said the Master. Do not fear to die for truth. Do not enter a tottering state nor dwell in one in disorder. Appear where truth is followed and disappear where it is not. It is a shame to be poor and dishonored in a well-governed state as to be rich and honored in an ill-governed one.
8.14. 子曰：“不在其位，不谋其政。”
Do not interfere, said the Master, into the matter you are not in a position to.
8.15. 子曰：“师挚之始，《关雎》之乱，洋洋乎盈耳哉!”
How pleasant to the ear, said the Master, are the Prelude played by the Music Master of Lu and the Chorus of Cooing and Wooing ! What a flood of music!
8.16. 子曰：“狂而不直，侗而不愿，悾悾而不信，吾不知之矣。”
What can I do, said the Master, with such persons as are proud and not frank, dull and not true, incapable and untrustworthy?
8.17. 子曰：“学如不及，犹恐失之。”
Be eager to acquire knowledge, said the Master, as if it were beyond reach, as if you were afraid to lose it even when it is acquired.
8.18. 子曰：“巍巍乎!舜、禹之有天下也而不与焉。”
How sublime, said the Master, were Emperors Shun and Yu, who ascended the throne without striving for it!
8.19. 子曰：“大哉尧之为君也!巍巍乎，唯天为大，唯尧则之。荡荡乎，民无能名焉。巍巍乎其有成功也，焕乎其有文章!”
How great, said the Master, was Emperor Yao as sovereign of the state! How sublime was he who imitated the boundless Heaven! So majestic was he that people could not find a name for him! How glorious were his achievements! How dazzling was his culture!
8.20. 舜有臣五人而天下治。武王曰：“予有乱臣十人。”孔子曰：“才难，不其然乎?唐虞之际，于斯为盛;有妇人焉，九人而已。三分天下有其二，以服事殷。周之德，其可谓至德也已矣。”
Emperor Shun had five ministers and the empire was well-governed. King Wu said, "I have ten able ministers." Confucius said, "It is difficult to find talents, is it not so? During the Tang and Yu Dynasties, it was particularly true. During the reign of King Wu there was a woman among his ministers, so there were only nine men in his service. King Wen of Zhou had two-thirds of the Realm of Yin, yet he served the Yin Emperor. Zhou may be said to attain the highest point of submission."
8.21. 子曰：“禹，吾无间然矣。菲饮食，而致孝乎鬼神；恶衣服，而致美乎黻冕；卑宫室，而尽力乎沟洫。禹，吾无间然矣！”
As for Emperor Yu, said the Master, I have nothing to say against him. He took plain food and drink for himself, but offered plentiful sacrifice for the divinities. He wore poor garment but put on magnificent dress in ritual ceremonies. He lived in a humble house but spared no effort to dig ditches and canals for the people. So what can I say against him?