Le Maître échange propos, anecdotes, brèves paraboles et maximes avec ses disciples. Tr. Couvreur (fr), Legge (en) et Lau (en).
Le Maître dit : « Il est aisé de servir l'homme honorable, mais difficile de lui plaire. Si l'on cherche à gagner ses bonnes grâces par une voie peu louable, on n'y réussira pas. Pour ce qui est du service qu'il demande, il considère les aptitudes. Il est difficile de servir l'homme de peu, et facile de lui plaire. Si l'on cherche à lui plaire même par des voies peu louables, on lui plaira. Mais, dans ceux qui sont à son service, il exige la perfection. »
Couvreur XIII.25.
Difference between the superior and the mean man in their relation to those employed by them.
The Master said, "The superior man is easy to serve and difficult to please. If you try to please him in any way which is not accordant with right, he will not be pleased. But in his employment of men, he uses them according to their capacity. The mean man is difficult to serve, and easy to please. If you try to please him, though it be in a way which is not accordant with right, he may be pleased. But in his employment of men, he wishes them to be equal to everything."
Legge XIII.25.
The Master said, 'The gentleman is easy to serve but difficult to please. He will not be pleased unless you try to please him by following the Way, but when it comes to employing the services of others, he does so within the limits of their capacity. The small man is difficult to serve but easy to please. He will he pleased even though you try to please him by not following the Way, but when it comes to employing the services of others, he demands all-round perfection.'
Lau [13:25]
Les Entretiens de Confucius – Lun Yu XIII. 25. (342) – Chinois on/off – Français/English
Alias the Lunyu, the Lun Yü, the Analects, les Entretiens du maître avec ses disciples.
Le Canon des Poèmes, Les Entretiens, La Grande Étude, Le Juste Milieu, Les Trois Caractères, Le Livre des Mutations, De la Voie et la Vertu, 300 poèmes Tang, L'Art de la guerre, Trente-six stratagèmes
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