加密数字货币交易所-《论语》详解：给所有曲解孔子的人-子曰：唯上知与下愚不移

The Master said: Only the most enlightened and the most foolish are unchangeable.

Yang Bojun: Confucius said: “Only the wise of the highest order and the foolish of the lowest order are unchangeable.”

Qian Mu: The teacher said: “Only the most knowledgeable and the most foolish cannot be moved.”

Li Zehou: Confucius said: “Only the smartest and the stupidest do not change.”

Detailed explanation:

The literal meaning of this chapter is simple, but it is often misunderstood. The key word here is “与” (and/with). The three scholars above and the usual interpretation all take “与” as “and,” but this is a later development. The original meaning of “与” is “to grant” or “to bestow,” originally referring to mutual cooperation and mutual giving among factions or friends, which later extended to “associating” or “forming close bonds.”

From the Confucian perspective, “上知” (highest knowledge) refers to a gentleman, and “下愚” (lowest foolishness) refers to a petty person. Why? Because without “highest knowledge,” one cannot become a gentleman. Confucianism emphasizes wisdom most, and the acquisition of wisdom is integrated with the “Way of the Sage”—“seeing, hearing, learning, and practicing.” To reach the unshakable position of the “Way of the Sage,” one must attain true wisdom, which is the manifestation of “upper knowledge.” To avoid retreat, one must thoroughly exhaust sources—“learning as if never enough, fearing loss”—and “not enough” means “upper knowledge” is not achieved. Without “upper knowledge,” one cannot become a true “gentleman.” As for the “petty person,” who drifts from childhood and is unrooted like a floating duckweed, how can there be wisdom? For a person, the greatest foolishness is to be “drifting from childhood,” and the “petty person” is truly “lower foolishness.”

Why does a gentleman need to “associate” with petty persons and make friends with them? Because gentlemen come from petty persons and are transformed from them. Before achieving “seeing, hearing, learning, and practicing” the “Way of the Sage,” everyone is a petty person, having been so since childhood. The “Way of the Sage” is the Great Path, not a private path; it is always vibrant and present in the moment. Even without Confucius, the “Way of the Sage” would not be concealed. Only those who attain “seeing, hearing, learning, and practicing” the “Way of the Sage” can truly gain wisdom and transform from petty persons into gentlemen. A gentleman cannot oppose petty persons but should make friends with them, recognizing their “petty” nature without being affected by it. However, ordinary people who have not reached the unshakable stage will face the situation described in the previous chapter: “Only women find it difficult to deal with petty persons, for they are not obedient when close, and resentful when distant.” Therefore, from a practical standpoint, Confucius advocates “keeping a distance from petty persons,” especially children, who must not be entrusted to petty persons for “education,” or there will be endless troubles.

But a true gentleman not only remains unstained from the mud but also dares to go through fire and water, observing the “Way of the Sage” among evil worlds and wicked people—only then can he achieve true unshakability and transform a world where “people do not understand” into one where “people do not resent.” The word “唯” (only) here differs from the previous chapter; it expresses hope and exhortation. This is Confucius’s hope and expectation for all aspiring gentlemen. A “gentleman” with true wisdom, reaching the unshakable position, can “not move” under any circumstances, including situations involving “associating with petty persons.” Only through practicing with petty persons can one truly attain unshakability. “不移” (not move) means not to change or retreat.

Chánzhōng’s straightforward translation:

The Master said: Only the most enlightened and the most foolish are unchangeable.

Confucius said: “May the true ‘seeing, hearing, learning, and practicing’ of the ‘Way of the Sage’ be achieved by gentlemen who form bonds and alliances with petty persons full of greed and fear, thus maintaining unshakable wisdom.”