子曰：“愚而好自用，贱而好自专。生乎今之世，反古之道。如此者灾及其身者也。”Confucius said, "Those who are foolish yet like to act on their own judgment, and those who are of low status yet like to be self-willed. Living in the present age, they go against the ways of the ancients. Those who are like this will bring disasters upon themselves."
孔子说：“愚昧却喜欢自以为是，卑贱但又好独断专行。生活在当下的时代，却一心想要恢复古代的做法。这样做，灾祸一定会降临到自己的身上。”
非天子不议礼，不制度，不考文。Only the Son of Heaven can deliberate on rites, establish systems, and examine the written language.
不是天子，就不要议订礼仪，不要制订法度，不要考订文字规范。
今天下，车同轨，书同文，行同伦。In the whole world nowadays, the tracks of carts are of the same width, the written language is the same, and the code of conduct is the same.
现在普天下车辙统一，文字统一，伦理观念统一。
虽有其位，苟无其德，不敢作礼乐焉。虽有其德，苟无其位，亦不敢作礼乐焉。Even if one holds a high position, if he lacks the requisite virtue, he would not dare to formulate rites and music. Even if one has the virtue, if he lacks the position, he would also not dare to formulate rites and music.
虽有天子的地位，如果没有天子的德行，是不敢制作礼乐制度的；虽然有天子的德行，如果没有天子的地位，也是不敢制作礼乐制度的。
子曰：“吾说夏礼，杞不足徵也。吾学殷礼，有宋存焉。吾学周礼，今用之。吾从周。”Confucius said, "When I talk about the rites of the Xia Dynasty, the state of Qi is not sufficient to verify them. When I study the rites of the Yin Dynasty, the state of Song still exists. When I study the rites of the Zhou Dynasty, they are being used today. I follow the Zhou Dynasty."
孔子说：“我谈论夏朝的礼制，夏的后裔杞国已不足以验证它；我学习殷朝的礼制，仅仅有宋国保持着它；我学习周朝的礼制，现在还实行着它，所以我遵从周礼。”
