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　　季氏將伐顓臾。

　　冉有、季路見於孔子曰：“季氏將有事於顓臾。”

　　孔子曰：“求！無乃爾是過與？夫顓臾，昔者先王以爲東蒙主，且在邦域之中矣，是社稷之臣也，何以伐爲？”

　　冉有曰：“夫子欲之。吾二臣者皆不欲也。”

　　孔子曰：“求！周任有言曰：‘陳力就列，不能者止。’危而不持，顛而不扶，則將焉用彼相矣？且爾言過矣。虎兕出於柙，龜玉毀於櫝中，是誰之過與？”

　　冉有曰：“今夫顓臾，固而近於費。今不取，後世必爲子孫憂。”

　　孔子曰：“求！君子疾夫舍曰‘欲之’而必爲之辭。丘也聞有國有家者，不患貧而患不均，不患寡而患不安。蓋均無貧，和無寡，安無傾。夫如是，故遠人不服，則脩文德以來之。旣來之，則安之。今由與求也，相夫子，遠人不服而不能來也，邦分崩離析而不能守也，而謀動干戈於邦內。吾恐季孫之憂，不在顓臾，而在蕭牆之內也！”

Confucius exposes the presumptuous and impolitic conduct of the chief of the Chî family in proposing to attack a minor state,a dn rebukes Zan Yû and Tsze-lû for abetting the design.

1. The head of the Chî family was going to attack Chwan-yü.

2. Zan Yû and Chî-lû had an interview with Confucius, and said, "Our chief, Chî, is going to commence operations against Chwan-yü."

3. Confucius said, "Ch'iû, is it not you who are in fault here?

4. "Now, in regard to Chwan-yü, long ago, a former king appointed its ruler to preside over the sacrifices to the eastern Mang; moreover, it is in the midst of the territory of our state; and its ruler is a minister in direct connection with the sovereign:-- What has your chief to do with attacking it?"

5. Zan Yû said, "Our master wishes the thing; neither of us two ministers wishes it."

6. Confucius said, "Ch'iû, there are the words of Châu Zan, -- 'When he can put forth his ability, he takes his place in the ranks of office; when he finds himself unable to do so, he retires from it. How can he be used as a guide to a blind man, who does not support him when tottering, nor raise him up when fallen?'

7. "And further, you speak wrongly. When a tiger or rhinoceros escapes from his cage; when a tortoise or piece of jade is injured in its repository:-- whose is the fault?"

8. Zan Yû said, "But at present, Chwan-yü is strong and near to Pî; if our chief do not now take it, it will hereafter be a sorrow to his descendants."

9. Confucius said. "Ch'iû, the superior man hates those declining to say -- 'I want such and such a thing,' and framing explanations for their conduct.

10. "I have heard that rulers of states and chiefs of families are not troubled lest their people should be few, but are troubled lest they should not keep their several places; that they are not troubled with fears of poverty, but are troubled with fears of a want of contented repose among the people in their several places. For when the people keep their several places, there will be no poverty; when harmony prevails, there will be no scarcity of people; and when there is such a contented repose, there will be no rebellious upsettings.

11. "So it is. -- Therefore, if remoter people are not submissive, all the influences of civil culture and virtue are to be cultivated to attract them to be so; and when they have been so attracted, they must be made contented and tranquil.

12. "Now, here are you, Yû and Ch'iû, assisting your chief. Remoter people are not submissive, and, with your help, he cannot attract them to him. In his own territory there are divisions and downfalls, leavings and separations, and, with your help, he cannot preserve it.

13. "And yet he is planning these hostile movements within the state. -- I am afraid that the sorrow of the Chî-sun family will not be on account of Chwan-yü, but will be found within the screen of their own court."