The Original Quote:
蘧伯玉使人于孔子，孔子与之坐而问焉，曰：“夫子何为？”对曰：“夫子欲寡其过而未能也。”使者出，子曰：“使乎！使乎！”
Qú Bóyù shǐ rén yú Kǒngzǐ, Kǒngzǐ yǔ zhī zuò ér wèn yān, yuē: “Fūzǐ hé wéi?” Duì yuē: “Fūzǐ yù guǎ qí guò ér wèi néng yě.” Shǐzhě chū, Zǐ yuē: “Shǐ hū! Shǐ hū!”
English Translation:
Qu Boyu sent a messenger to visit Confucius. Confucius bade him sit and inquired, “What is your master about?” The messenger replied, “My master seeks to diminish his faults, yet has not attained it.” After the messenger departed, Confucius exclaimed, “What a messenger! What a messenger!”
Key Concepts Explained:
- Guo (过): Faults or transgressions—in Confucian thought, acknowledging one's own shortcomings is the first step toward moral refinement, a core practice of self-cultivation.
- Li (礼): Ritual propriety—the messenger's respectful demeanor and precise speech exemplify proper conduct, reflecting the harmony between inner virtue and outer form.
- Ren (仁): Benevolence—the messenger's loyalty to his master and humility before Confucius embody the virtue of putting others before oneself.
Cultural Context:
This passage from the Analects (Lunyu 14.25) portrays Qu Boyu, a retired virtuous minister of Wei, and his envoy. Qu's pursuit of self-improvement—"desiring to diminish faults"—reflects the Confucian ideal of lifelong moral striving, never resting on past achievements. The messenger's response, neither boastful nor servile, demonstrates the Confucian value of zhong (loyalty) and xin (trustworthiness), earning Confucius's rare double praise. Historically, this anecdote underscores the importance of indirect virtue: the character of a master is revealed through his messenger, just as the quality of a ruler is seen in his ministers. It also highlights the role of exemplary figures in maintaining moral standards during the Spring and Autumn period's political turbulence.