21.工欲善其事,必先利其器。A craftsman, if he means to do good work, must first sharpen his tools。
22.学也,禄在其中。君子忧道不忧贫。Learning may incidentally lead to high pay. But a gentleman’s anxieties concern the progress of the Way; he has not anxiety concerning poverty。 23.事君,敬其事而后其食。 In serving one’s prince, one should be:Intent upon the task,Not bent upon the pay。 24.君子有三畏:畏天命,畏大人,畏圣人之言。There are three things that a gentleman fears: he fears the will of Heaven, he fears great men, he fears the words of the Divine Sages。 25.生而知之者,上也。学而知之者,次也。困而学之,又其次也。困而不学,民斯为下也。 Highest are those who are born wise. Next are those who become wise by learning. After them come those who have to toil painfully in order to acquire learning. Finally, to the lowest class of the common people belong those who toil painfully without ever managing to learn. 26.隐居以求其志。It is by dwelling in seclusion that they seek the fulfillment of their aims。 27.唯有上智与下愚不移。It is only the very wisest and the very stupidest who cannot change。 28.君子有三变:望之俨然,即之也温,听其言也厉。A gentleman has three varying aspects: seen from afar, he looks severe, when approached he is found to be mild, when heard speaking he turns out to be incisive.