」子路曰：「好長劍。
“I am fond of the long sword,” Zilu answered.
」孔子曰：「非此之問也。
“That is not what I was asking about,” said Kongzi.
謂以汝之所能，加之以學，豈可及哉！
」子路曰：「學亦有益乎？
“I was talking about things that can be achieved through your inherent abilities abetted by study, not about things that can be achieved by anyone.” “Is study beneficial then?” asked Zilu.
」孔子曰：「夫人君無諫臣則失政，士無教友則失聽。
“If a ruler has no officer to admonish him,” replied Kongzi, “he will make mistakes; and, if a gentleman has no friend to instruct him, he will lack advice.
狂馬不釋其策，操弓不返於檠。
A spirited horse cannot do without a whip, and a crossbow cannot do without a straightening frame.
木受繩則直，人受諫則聖。
Wood receives the plumb line and is thereafter straight; people receive admonishment and are thereafter wise.
受學重問，孰不順成？
毀仁惡士，且近於刑。
Who, after submission to study and repeated inquiry, cannot smoothly reach his goal?
君子不可以不學。
Ruining goodness and vilifying worthy men is similar to suffering mutilation. A man of quality cannot but engage in study.” “On South Mountain,” said Zilu, “there is a kind of bamboo that doesn’t require shaping to be straight; and, when cut and fired from a bow, it will pierce rhinoceros hide.
」子路曰：「南山有竹，弗揉自直，斬而射之，通於犀革，又何學為乎？
What does study have to do with this?” “Won’t it pierce deeper if you add feathers to the haft and apply a whetstone to the tip?” asked Kongzi.
」孔子曰：「括而羽之，鏃而砥礪之，其入不益深乎？
」子路拜曰：「敬受教哉！」
“I respectfully accept your teaching,” said Zilu, bowing.