说苑/子貢問曰：「君子見大水必觀焉，何也？

子貢問曰：「君子見大水必觀焉，何也？

Eric Henry

“When a man of quality sees a great body of water,” said Zigong, “he always gazes appreciatively at it.

Eric Henry

Why is this?” “A man of quality, please note, sees in water a likeness to virtue,” replied Kongzi.

Eric Henry

“It bestows its gifts broadly and without selfishness; in this it suggests the faculty of kingly benevolence.

Eric Henry

Whatever water reaches flourishes as a result; in this it brings to mind the faculty of empathy.

Eric Henry

Its currents seek the lowest places and follow every twist and turn; in this it reflects the faculty of principled action. When shallow it flows easily, and when deep it cannot be plumbed; in this it resembles wisdom.

Eric Henry

It plunges with no hesitation into abysses hundreds of yards deep; in this it reminds one of courage.

」孔子曰：「夫水者君子比德焉，遍與而無私，似德；所及者生，似仁；其流卑下句倨，皆循其理，似義；淺者流行，深者不測，似智；其赴百仞之谷不疑，似勇；綽弱而微達，似察；受惡不讓，似貞；包蒙不清以入，鮮潔以出，似善化；主量必平，似正；盈不求概，似度；其萬折必東，似意；是以君子見大水觀焉爾也。」

Eric Henry

It is weak and yielding yet imperceptibly attains its goals; in this it suggests meticulousness.

Eric Henry

It receives that which is unclean without turning it away; in this it reminds one of rectitude.

Eric Henry

Its inclusiveness is such that it allows things that are impure to enter it and sends those things forth in a cleansed state; in this it resembles the transformative power of goodness.

Eric Henry

When poured into a measure, it assumes a level state; in this it suggests uprightness.

Eric Henry

When it fills a vessel, it is not necessary to use a scraper to make it level; in this it brings moderation to mind.

Eric Henry

It turns a thousand different ways yet still seeks out the east; in this it suggests fixity of purpose.

Eric Henry

That is why, when a man of quality sees a body of water, he always gazes appreciatively at it.