叶公子高将使于齐，问于仲尼曰：Lord Ye Gaogao was about to be dispatched on a mission to the state of Qi. He consulted Confucius, saying:
“王使诸梁也甚重。齐之待使者，盖将甚敬而不急。匹夫犹未可动也，而况诸侯乎！吾甚栗之。"The king has entrusted me with a very important mission. The people of Qi will probably treat me with great respect but not act promptly. Even an ordinary person is not easily swayed, let alone a feudal lord! I am extremely worried.
子常语诸梁也曰：‘凡事若小若大，寡不道以欢成。事若不成，则必有人道之患；You often told me, 'Whether a matter is small or large, few achieve success without following the proper way. If a matter fails, there will surely be the worry of being punished by others.
事若成，则必有阴阳之患。若成若不成而后无患者，唯有德者能之。’If it succeeds, there will surely be the worry of imbalance between yin and yang. Only those with virtue can be free from worry whether a matter succeeds or fails.'
吾食也执粗而不臧，爨无欲清之人。I eat simple food and am not particular about delicacies. I am not a person who desires a cool fire when cooking.
今吾朝受命而夕饮冰，我其内热与！吾未至乎事之情而既有阴阳之患矣！Now, I receive the order in the morning and drink ice in the evening. Do I have internal heat? Before I even understand the real situation of the matter, I already have the worry of imbalance between yin and yang.
事若不成，必有人道之患，是两也。为人臣者不足以任之，子其有以语我来！”If the matter fails, there will surely be the worry of being punished by others. This is a double worry. As a subject, I am not capable enough to take on this responsibility. Do you have some advice for me?"
仲尼曰：“天下有大戒二：其一命也，其一义也。Confucius said, "There are two great commandments in the world. One is fate, and the other is righteousness.
子之爱亲，命也，不可解于心；臣之事君，义也。A son's love for his parents is fate and cannot be undone in his heart. A subject's service to his monarch is righteousness.
无适而非君也，无所逃于天地之间。是之谓大戒。There is no place where there is no monarch. There is no escape between heaven and earth. This is called the great commandment.
是以夫事其亲者，不择地而安之，孝之至也；夫事其君者，不择事而安之，忠之盛也；Therefore, those who serve their parents do not choose a place but make them comfortable. This is the highest filial piety. Those who serve their monarch do not choose a matter but make them comfortable. This is the greatest loyalty.
自事其心者，哀乐不易施乎前，知其不可奈何而安之若命，德之至也。Those who serve their own hearts do not let joys and sorrows easily affect them. Knowing that there is nothing they can do and accepting it as fate is the highest virtue.
为人臣子者，固有所不得已。行事之情而忘其身，何暇至于悦生而恶死！夫子其行可矣！As subjects and sons, there are certainly things they cannot help but do. When acting according to the real situation and forgetting about themselves, there is no time to be attached to life and hate death! You can just go and act."
丘请复以所闻：凡交近则必相靡以信，远则必忠之以言。I ask to repeat what I have heard: In dealing with those close by, one must influence each other with trust. With those far away, one must be loyal with words.
言必或传之。夫传两喜两怒之言，天下之难者也。Words must sometimes be passed on. Passing on words that bring joy or anger on both sides is the most difficult thing in the world.
夫两喜必多溢美之言，两怒必多溢恶之言。When there is joy on both sides, there will surely be excessive praise. When there is anger on both sides, there will surely be excessive criticism.
凡溢之类妄，妄则其信之也莫，莫则传言者殃。All excessive words are false. If they are false, it is difficult to believe them. If it is difficult to believe them, the one who passes on the words will be in trouble.
故法言曰：‘传其常情，无传其溢言，则几乎全。’Therefore, the wise saying goes, 'Pass on the normal words and not the excessive ones, then one can be almost safe.'
且以巧斗力者，始乎阳，常卒乎阴，泰至则多奇巧；Moreover, those who compete in skill start with open competition but often end up with underhanded means.
以礼饮酒者，始乎治，常卒乎乱，泰至则多奇乐。When competing with courtesy in drinking, it starts with order but often ends in chaos. When it goes too far, there will be many strange pleasures.
凡事亦然，始乎谅，常卒乎鄙；其作始也简，其将毕也必巨。The same is true for all things. It starts with trust but often ends in meanness. What starts simply will surely become huge when it is about to end.
言者，风波也；行者，实丧也。夫风波易以动，实丧易以危。"Words are like wind and waves; actions lead to real gains or losses. Wind and waves are easily stirred up, and real gains or losses are easily dangerous.
故忿设无由，巧言偏辞。兽死不择音，气息勃然于是并生心厉。Therefore, anger arises without reason, and clever words and one-sided speeches appear. When an animal is dying, it does not choose its sound. Its breath is violent, and then malicious thoughts arise.
剋核太至，则必有不肖之心应之而不知其然也。苟为不知其然也，孰知其所终！If one is too harsh in criticism, there will surely be unworthy thoughts responding without one knowing why. If one does not know why, who knows where it will end!
故法言曰：‘无迁令，无劝成。过度益也。’迁令劝成殆事。美成在久，恶成不及改，可不慎与！Therefore, the wise saying goes, 'Do not change orders, do not urge success. Excessive urging is harmful.' Changing orders and urging success will lead to failure. A good result takes a long time to achieve, but a bad result is difficult to change once it occurs. Shouldn't one be careful?
且夫乘物以游心，托不得已以养中，至矣。何作为报也！莫若为致命，此其难者？”Moreover, relying on things to roam freely in the mind and entrusting oneself to the unavoidable to nourish the inner self is the best. Why bother thinking about repaying? It is better to convey the message faithfully. Isn't this the difficult thing?"
颜阖将傅卫灵公大子，而问于蘧伯玉曰；“有人于此，其德天杀。与之为无方则危吾国，与之为有方则危吾身。其知适足以知人之过，而不知其所以过。若然者，吾奈之何？”Yan He was about to be the tutor of the crown prince of the state of Wei. He consulted Qu Boyu and said, "There is a person here whose virtue is cruel. If I deal with him without principles, it will endanger my country. If I deal with him with principles, it will endanger myself. His knowledge is just enough to know others' mistakes but not know why they make mistakes. In such a case, what should I do?"
蘧伯玉曰：“善哉问乎！戒之，慎之，正女身哉！形莫若就，心莫若和。Qu Boyu said, "What a good question! Be cautious and careful and correct yourself! In appearance, it is better to conform. In heart, it is better to be harmonious.
虽然，之二者有患。就不欲入，和不欲出。Although these two have their dangers. In conforming, one should not go too far. In being harmonious, one should not show it too much.
形就而入，且为颠为灭，为崩为蹶；If one conforms too much and goes deep inside, one will be toppled, destroyed, collapsed, and overthrown.
心和而出，且为声为名，为妖为孽。If one is harmonious and shows it too much, one will be seeking fame and reputation and become a demon and a curse.
彼且为婴儿，亦与之为婴儿；彼且为无町畦，亦与之为无町畦；If he acts like a baby, act like a baby with him. If he acts without boundaries, act without boundaries with him.
彼且为无崖，亦与之为无崖；达之，入于无疵。If he acts without restraint, act without restraint with him. Understand him and enter without flaws."
汝不知夫螳螂乎？怒其臂以当车辙，不知其不胜任也，是其才之美者也。"Don't you know about the mantis? It angrily uses its arms to block the wheel track without knowing it is not capable. This is because it thinks its ability is beautiful.
戒之，慎之，积伐而美者以犯之，几矣！Be cautious and careful. If you accumulate your beauty and offend him, you are close to danger."
汝不知夫养虎者乎？不敢以生物与之，为其杀之之怒也；Don't you know about those who raise tigers? They dare not give live animals to them because of their anger when they kill.
不敢以全物与之，为其决之之怒也。时其饥饱，达其怒心。They dare not give whole animals to them because of their anger when they tear them apart. They observe their hunger and fullness and understand their anger.
虎之与人异类，而媚养己者，顺也；故其杀者，逆也。Tigers are different from humans, but they are affectionate to those who raise them because they are obedient. Therefore, those who are killed by tigers are disobedient."
夫爱马者，以筐盛矢，以蜃盛溺。Those who love horses use baskets to hold dung and shells to hold urine.
适有蚊虻仆缘，而拊之不时，则缺衔毁首碎胸。When there are mosquitoes and flies landing on them and they pat them at the wrong time, the horses will break their bits, damage their heads, and break their chests.
意有所至而爱有所亡。可不慎邪？”When one's intention goes too far, love will be lost. Shouldn't one be careful?"
匠石之齐，至于曲辕，见栎社树。The craftsman Shi went to Qi and arrived at Quyuan. He saw a sacred oak tree.
其大蔽数千牛，絜之百围，其高临山十仞而后有枝，其可以舟者旁十数。It was so large that it could shade thousands of oxen. Measuring around it took a hundred arm-lengths. Its height reached ten fathoms above the mountain before there were branches. There were dozens of logs beside it that could be made into boats.
观者如市，匠伯不顾，遂行不辍。Spectators were like a market, but the master craftsman ignored it and continued walking without stopping.
弟子厌观之，走及匠石，曰：‘自吾执斧斤以随夫子，未尝见材如此其美也。先生不肯视，行不辍，何邪？”The disciples were tired of looking at it and ran up to the craftsman Shi and said, "Since I have been holding an axe and following you, I have never seen such beautiful timber. Why don't you look at it and keep walking without stopping?"
曰：“已矣，勿言之矣！散木也。以为舟则沉，以为棺椁则速腐，以为器则速毁，以为门户则液瞒，以为柱则蠹，是不材之木也。无所可用，故能若是之寿。”He said, "Enough. Don't say anymore. It is a useless tree. If made into a boat, it will sink. If made into a coffin, it will rot quickly. If made into an implement, it will be destroyed quickly. If made into a door, it will ooze sap. If made into a pillar, it will be eaten by worms. It is a useless tree. Because it is useless, it can live such a long life."
匠石归，栎社见梦曰：When the craftsman Shi returned, the sacred oak tree appeared to him in a dream and said:
“女将恶乎比予哉？若将比予于文木邪？夫楂梨橘柚果蓏之属，实熟则剥，剥则辱。"What will you compare me to? Will you compare me to a useful tree? Those fruits like hawthorns, pears, oranges, and grapefruit will be peeled when they are ripe. When peeled, they will be humiliated.
大枝折，小枝泄。此以其能苦其生者也。Big branches will be broken, and small branches will leak. This is because their abilities bring suffering to their lives.
故不终其天年而中道夭，自掊击于世俗者也。物莫不若是。且予求无所可用久矣！Therefore, they do not live out their natural lifespan but die prematurely in the middle, being beaten by the secular world. All things are like this. And I have been seeking to be useless for a long time.
几死，乃今得之，为予大用。使予也而有用，且得有此大也邪？After almost dying several times, I have finally achieved it and become useful to me. If I were useful, would I be able to be so large?
且也若与予也皆物也，奈何哉其相物也？而几死之散人，又恶知散木！”Moreover, if you and I are both things, why should we compare each other? And you, a useless person who almost died several times, how would you know about a useless tree?"
匠石觉而诊其梦。弟子曰：“趣取无用，则为社何邪？”The craftsman Shi woke up and analyzed his dream. The disciple said, "If it is useless, why be a sacred tree?"
曰：“密！若无言！彼亦直寄焉！以为不知己者诟厉也。不为社者，且几有翦乎！且也彼其所保与众异，而以义喻之，不亦远乎！”He said: "Be quiet! Don't speak! It is just a place where it is temporarily placed. It is scolded by those who do not know it. If it were not a sacred tree, it would almost be cut down. Moreover, what it preserves is different from others. If you explain it with righteousness, isn't it far off?"
南伯子綦游乎商之丘，见大木焉，有异：结驷千乘，隐将芘其所藾。Nanbo Ziqin traveled to Shangqiu and saw a large tree. It was strange. A thousand chariots could be hidden under its shade.
子綦曰：“此何木也哉！此必有异材夫！”Ziqin said: "What kind of tree is this? There must be some extraordinary material in it!"
仰而视其细枝，则拳曲而不可以为栋梁；俯而视其大根，则轴解而不可以为棺椁；Looking up at its small branches, they were crooked and could not be used as beams. Looking down at its large roots, they were twisted and could not be used as coffins.
舐其叶，则口烂而为伤；嗅之则使人狂酲三日而不已。Licking its leaves would make one's mouth sore and injured. Smelling it would make one drunk and dizzy for three days without stopping.
子綦曰“此果不材之木也，以至于此其大也。嗟乎神人，以此不材。”Ziqin said: "This is indeed a useless tree. That's why it can grow so large. Alas, the divine man is like this useless tree."
宋有荆氏者，宜楸柏桑。其拱把而上者，求狙猴之杙斩之；In the state of Song, there is a place called Jing. It is suitable for catalpa, cypress, and mulberry. Those that are as thick as a grasp and grow upward are cut down by those looking for stakes for monkeys.
三围四围，求高名之丽者斩之；Those that are three or four arm-lengths in circumference are cut down by those looking for tall and beautiful trees.
七围八围，贵人富商之家求禅傍者斩之。Those that are seven or eight arm-lengths in circumference are cut down by noble families and wealthy merchants looking for sideboards for coffins.
故未终其天年而中道之夭于斧斤，此材之患也。Therefore, they do not live out their natural lifespan but die prematurely in the middle by axes. This is the worry of being useful.
故解之以牛之白颡者，与豚之亢鼻者，与人有痔病者，不可以适河。Therefore, those with white foreheads among cattle, those with upturned noses among pigs, and those with hemorrhoids among humans cannot be sacrificed by being thrown into the river.
此皆巫祝以知之矣，所以为不祥也。此乃神人之所以为大祥也。This is all known by witches and priests. That's why it is considered inauspicious. But this is what the divine man considers extremely auspicious.
支离疏者，颐隐于齐，肩高于顶，会撮指天，五管在上，两髀为胁。There is a person named Zhili Shu. His chin is hidden in his chest. His shoulders are higher than his head. The hair on his crown points to the sky. His five sense organs are on top. His thighs are like ribs.
挫针治繲，足以餬口；鼓荚播精，足以食十人。Mending clothes and washing them is enough to feed himself. Winnowing grains and spreading them is enough to feed ten people.
上征武士，则支离攘臂于其间；上有大役，则支离以有常疾不受功；上与病者粟，则受三锺与十束薪。When conscripting warriors, Zhili Shu brandishes his arms among them. When there is a large labor service, Zhili Shu is exempted because of his chronic illness. When giving grains to the sick, he receives three dou and ten bundles of firewood.
夫支离者其形者，犹足以养其身，终其天年，又况支离其德者乎！A person with such a deformed body can still support himself and live out his natural lifespan. How much more so for those with deformed virtue!
孔子适楚，楚狂接舆游其门曰：Confucius went to the state of Chu. The madman Jieyu wandered outside his door and said:
“凤兮凤兮，何如德之衰也。来世不可待，往世不可追也。天下有道，圣人成焉；天下无道，圣人生焉。"Phoenix! Phoenix! How come your virtue is declining? The future cannot be awaited. The past cannot be pursued. When the world is in order, saints achieve success. When the world is in chaos, saints survive.
方今之时，仅免刑焉！福轻乎羽，莫之知载；祸重乎地，莫之知避。已乎，已乎！临人以德。At present, one can only barely avoid punishment! Happiness is lighter than a feather, but no one knows how to carry it. Misfortune is heavier than the earth, but no one knows how to avoid it. Enough! Enough! Deal with others with virtue.
殆乎，殆乎！画地而趋。迷阳迷阳，无伤吾行。吾行郤曲，无伤吾足。”Dangerous! Dangerous! Draw a line on the ground and follow it. The thorny bushes, the thorny bushes, do not hurt my journey. My journey is winding, do not hurt my feet."
山木，自寇也；膏火，自煎也。桂可食，故伐之；漆可用，故割之。人皆知有用之用，而莫知无用之用也。Mountains and trees bring disaster upon themselves. Oil and fire fry themselves. Cassia is edible, so it is cut down. Lacquer is useful, so it is cut. People all know the usefulness of being useful, but no one knows the usefulness of being useless.
