Lun Yu – Les Entretiens de Confucius

Le Maître échange propos, anecdotes, brèves paraboles et maximes avec ses disciples. Tr. Couvreur (fr), Legge (en) et Lau (en).

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Lunyu XVI. 8. (441)

Confucius dit : « L'homme honorable respecte trois choses. Il respecte le Décret céleste1 ; il respecte les hommes éminents ; il respecte les maximes des hommes saints. L'homme de peu ne connaît pas le Décret céleste et ne le respecte pas ; il traite sans respect les hommes éminents ; il tourne en dérision les maximes des hommes saints. »

1. La loi naturelle.

Couvreur XVI.8.

Contrast of the superior and the mean man in regard to the three things of which the former stands in awe.
1. Confucius said, "There are three things of which the superior man stands in awe. He stands in awe of the ordinances of Heaven. He stands in awe of great men. He stands in awe of the words of sages.
2. "The mean man does not know the ordinances of Heaven, and consequently does not stand in awe of them. He is disrespectful to great men. He makes sport of the words of sages."

Legge XVI.8.

Confucius said, 'The gentleman stands in awe of three things. He is in awe of the Decree of Heaven. He is in awe of great men. He is in awe of the words of the sages. The small man, being ignorant of the Decree of Heaven, does not stand in awe of it. He treats great men with insolence and the words of the sages with derision.'

Lau [16:8]

君子は三つの対象にたいして畏敬の念をもって接すべきである。天命にたいして、目上の人にたいして、そして聖人の教えにたいして。
小人は天命を知らずして畏れず、大人に狎（な）れ、聖人の言を侮る。

Anon. – 05/12/2006

Lun Yu XVI. 8. (441)