学而第一(2)

有子曰:“其为人也孝弟，而好犯上者，鲜矣；不好犯上，而好作乱者，未之有也。君子务本，本立而道生。孝弟也者，其为人之本也!”

A disciple of Confucius remarked, “A man who is a good son and a good citizen will seldom be found to be a man disposed to quarrel with those in authority over him; and man who are not disposed to quarrel with those in authority will never be found to disturb the peace and order of the State.”

“A wise man devotes his attention to what is essential in the foundation of life. When the foundation is laid, wisdom will come. Now, to be a good son and a good citizen- do not these form the foundation of a moral life?”