The Original Quote:
长沮、桀溺耦而耕，孔子过之，使子路问津焉。长沮曰：“夫执舆者为谁？”子路曰：“为孔丘。”曰：“是鲁孔丘与？”曰：“是也。”曰：“是知津矣。”问于桀溺，桀溺曰：“子为谁？”曰：“为仲由。”曰：“是鲁孔丘之徒与？”对曰：“然。”曰：“滔滔者天下皆是也，而谁以易之？且而与其从辟人之士也，岂若从辟世之士哉？”耰而不辍。子路行以告，夫子怃然曰：“鸟兽不可与同群，吾非斯人之徒与而谁与？天下有道，丘不与易也。”
Cháng Jǔ, Jié Nì ǒu ér gēng, Kǒngzǐ guò zhī, shǐ Zǐlù wèn jīn yān. Cháng Jǔ yuē: “Fú zhí yú zhě wéi shuí?” Zǐlù yuē: “Wéi Kǒng Qiū.” Yuē: “Shì Lǔ Kǒng Qiū yǔ?” Yuē: “Shì yě.” Yuē: “Shì zhī jīn yǐ.” Wèn yú Jié Nì, Jié Nì yuē: “Zǐ wéi shuí?” Yuē: “Wéi Zhòng Yóu.” Yuē: “Shì Lǔ Kǒng Qiū zhī tú yǔ?” Duì yuē: “Rán.” Yuē: “Tāo tāo zhě tiānxià jiē shì yě, ér shuí yǐ yì zhī? Qiě ér yǔ qí cóng pì rén zhī shì yě, qǐ ruò cóng pì shì zhī shì zāi?” Yōu ér bù chuò. Zǐlù xíng yǐ gào, fūzǐ wǔ rán yuē: “Niǎo shòu bù kě yǔ tóng qún, wú fēi sī rén zhī tú yǔ ér shuí yǔ? Tiānxià yǒu dào, Qiū bù yǔ yì yě.”
English Translation:
Chang Ju and Jie Ni were ploughing together in tandem. Confucius, passing by, sent Zilu to inquire where the ferry crossing lay. Chang Ju asked, "Who is that holding the reins?" Zilu replied, "It is Kong Qiu." "Is he the Kong Qiu of Lu?" "Yes." "Then he already knows the crossing," said Chang Ju. Zilu then asked Jie Ni, who said, "Who are you?" "I am Zhong You." "Are you a follower of Kong Qiu of Lu?" "Indeed I am." Jie Ni responded, "The whole world is swept along in a turbulent flood—who can change it? Rather than follow a man who flees from the wicked, would it not be better to follow one who flees from the world entirely?" He continued covering the seeds without pause. Zilu returned and reported this. The Master, with a wistful sigh, said: "One cannot flock with birds and beasts. If I am not to be a companion among these people, then with whom should I associate? Were the Way (dào, 道) realized in the world, I would not need to reform it."
Key Concepts Explained:
- 道 (dào): The Way—the natural and moral order of the universe which, when realized in human society, brings harmony and good governance.
- 仁 (rén): Humanity or benevolence—the core virtue of Confucianism, embodying compassion and the ethical imperative to engage with and improve society.
- 命 (mìng): Fate or mandate—the recognition of cosmic limits, yet not as an excuse for passivity, but as a context within which human effort (wéi, 为) must be exerted.
- 礼 (lǐ): Ritual propriety—the cultural norms and practices that bind human relationships and sustain civilization, against the chaos of a world without order.
Cultural Context:
This passage from the Analects (Lúnyǔ, 论语) captures a defining tension in Confucian thought: the conflict between withdrawal into personal purity (as advocated by Daoist-leaning hermits) and active engagement to reform a corrupt world. The recluses Chang Ju and Jie Ni represent the "escaping-the-world" ideal, dismissing Confucius as one who should already know the "crossing" of life. Confucius, however, affirms his commitment to humanity (rén, 仁), arguing that if the world were already governed by the Way (dào, 道), he would not need to act. His gentle melancholy reveals a profound sense of responsibility—a willingness to labor in a fallen age, not for personal gain, but for the hope of moral transformation. This dialogue became a foundational text for later debates on the scholar-official's duty to serve society versus the allure of reclusion.