仲尼曰：「君子中庸，小人反中庸。
Chung-ni said, 'The superior man embodies the course of the Mean; the mean man acts contrary to the course of the Mean.
「凡事豫則立，不豫則廢。
In all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such previous preparation there is sure to be failure.
子曰：「道其不行矣夫。」
The Master said, 'Alas!
How is the path not trodden!'
自誠明，謂之性；自明誠，謂之教。
When we have intelligence resulting from sincerity, this condition is to be ascribed to nature; when we have sincerity resulting from intelligence, this condition is to be ascribed to instruction.
子曰：「好學近乎知，力行近乎仁，知恥近乎勇。
The Master said, 'To be fond of learning is to be near to knowledge.
To practice with vigor is to be near to benevolence.
To possess the feeling of shame is to be near to energy.
其次致曲。曲能有誠，
Next to the above is he who cultivates to the utmost the shoots of goodness in him.
From those he can attain to the possession of sincerity.
子曰：「武王、周公，其達孝矣乎！
The Master said, 'How far-extending was the filial piety of king Wu and the duke of Chow!
哀公問政。
The duke Ai asked about government.
《詩》云：「相在爾室，尚不愧于屋漏。」
It is said in the Book of Poetry, 'Looked at in your apartment, be there free from shame as being exposed to the light of heaven.'
唯天下至誠，為能經綸天下之大經，立天下之大本，知天地之化育。
It is only the individual possessed of the most entire sincerity that can exist under heaven, who can adjust the great invariable relations of mankind, establish the great fundamental virtues of humanity, and know the transforming and nourishing operations of Heaven and Earth.
子曰：「道不遠人。
The Master said, 'The path is not far from man.
When men try to pursue a course, which is far from the common indications of consciousness, this course cannot be considered THE PATH.
人之為道而遠人，不可以為道。
The Master said, 'The path is not far from man.
When men try to pursue a course, which is far from the common indications of consciousness, this course cannot be considered THE PATH.
子曰：「愚而好自用，賤而好自專，生乎今之世，反古之道。
The Master said, 'Let a man who is ignorant be fond of using his own judgment; let a man who is in a low situation be fond of arrogating a directing power to himself; let a man who is living in the present age go back to the ways of antiquity;—
天命之謂性，率性之謂道，修道之謂教。
What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction.
子曰：「舜其大孝也與！
The Master said, 'How greatly filial was Shun!
《詩》云：「潛雖伏矣，亦孔之昭！」
It is said in the Book of Poetry, 'Although the fish sink and lie at the bottom, it is still quite clearly seen.'
子曰：「舜其大知也與！
The Master said, 'There was Shun:—He indeed was greatly wise!
子曰：「回之為人也，擇乎中庸，
The Master said, 'This was the manner of Hui: he made choice of the Mean,
《詩》曰：「奏假無言，時靡有爭。」
It is said in the Book of Poetry, 'In silence is the offering presented, and the spirit is then maintained; there is no strife.'
子曰：「素隱行怪，後世有述焉，吾弗為之矣。
The Master said, 'To live in obscurity, and yet practise wonders, in order to be mentioned with honour in future ages:—this is what I do not do.
子曰：「無憂者其惟文王乎！
The Master said, 'The only one who can be said to have been without sorrow is king Wan!
至誠之道，可以前知。
It is characteristic of the most complete sincerity to be able to foreknow.
《詩》曰：「予懷明德，不大聲以色。」
It is said in the Book of Poetry, 'I regard with pleasure your brilliant virtue, making no great display of itself in sounds and appearances.'
君子素其位而行，不愿乎其外。
The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this.