The Original Quote:
子击磬于卫，有荷蒉而过孔氏之门者，曰：“有心哉，击磬乎！”既而曰：“鄙哉，硁硁乎！莫己知也，斯己而已矣。深则厉，浅则揭。”子曰：“果哉！末之难矣。”
Zǐ jī qìng yú Wèi, yǒu hé kuì ér guò Kǒng shì zhī mén zhě, yuē: “Yǒu xīn zāi, jī qìng hū!” Jì ér yuē: “Bǐ zāi, kēng kēng hū! Mò jǐ zhī yě, sī jǐ ér yǐ yǐ. Shēn zé lì, qiǎn zé jiē.” Zǐ yuē: “Guǒ zāi! Mò zhī nán yǐ.”
English Translation:
When the Master was striking a sounding stone in Wei, a man carrying a basket of weeds passed by the gate of Confucius’ dwelling and said, “How full of meaning is this striking of the stone!” After a while, he added, “How contemptible! That stubborn, insistent sound! If no one knows you, then simply cease. When the water is deep, wade across in your clothes; when it is shallow, lift your garments and cross.” The Master replied, “How resolute! Indeed, there is nothing to dispute in that.”
Key Concepts Explained:
- 命 (Mìng): The concept of destiny or mandate, often understood as the natural course of events beyond human control; here, the hermit suggests yielding to circumstances, while Confucius implies striving against them.
- 礼 (Lǐ): Ritual propriety or the moral order of society; the stone’s sound symbolizes the persistent call to uphold this order, even when unrecognized.
- 仁 (Rén): Benevolence or humaneness, the core virtue driving Confucius’ “knowing it cannot be done yet doing it” (知其不可而为之) spirit, reflecting a deep commitment to moral action.
Cultural Context:
This passage from the Analects (论语, Lúnyǔ) captures the tension between Confucius’ unwavering dedication to reforming a chaotic world and the reclusive ideal of withdrawing from unrecognized efforts. The hermit’s metaphor—adapting one’s actions to circumstances like crossing a river—echoes Daoist pragmatism, while Confucius’ “resolute” reply acknowledges the critique but reaffirms his lifelong mission. Historically, this reflects the Warring States period’s intellectual diversity, where Confucians championed active moral engagement against a backdrop of political turmoil and alternative philosophies.