original text

5.20 Ji Wenzi (1) think twice before you act. Hearing this, Zi said, "No more, Si (2) will do."

To annotate ...

(1) Ji Wenzi: Ji's father, Lv Chenggong and Lu Xianggong were Zhengqing at that time, and Wen was his posthumous title.

(2) study: just.

translate

Ji Wenzi has to think about everything many times. Confucius heard this and said, "Think again."

Comment and analysis

Think twice about everything. Generally, the advantages always outweigh the disadvantages. Why didn't Confucius agree with Ji Wenzi after hearing about it? Some people say: "Wen Zi's plan to hide people's eyes and ears all his life is too clear, so his beauty and evil are not hidden from each other, and he thinks twice about his illness." . Among the three views, too sophisticated and too cautious; However, its shortcomings will be selfish. "("Guan Maoyong: A Record of the Analects of Confucius ") At that time, Ji Wenzi was too cautious and worried too much, so there were all kinds of ills. From a certain point of view, Confucius' words are not unreasonable.

Here is the person who wants his revenge to think twice and dig another grave for his own use.