孔子是谁，又是一个什么样的人

Most people recognize his name and know that he is famous for having said something,
很多人都知道他的名字，而且还知道他因为说过一些话而出名，
but considering the long-lasting impact his teachings have had on the world,
但提到他的学说对世界深远的影响，
very few people know who Confucius really was, what he really said, and why.
就很少人会知道孔子究竟是谁了，他究竟说过些什么，以及他为什么这样说。
Amid the chaos of 6th Century BCE China, where warring states fought endlessly among themselves for supremacy,
在公元前6世纪的中国，硝烟不断，群雄争霸，
and rulers were frequently assassinated, sometimes by their own relatives,
君主经常被刺杀，甚至有时候是被自己的亲属所杀。
Confucius exemplified benevolence and integrity, and through his teaching, became one of China's greatest philosophers.
孔子努力践行仁和义，并且通过他的学说成为中国最伟大的思想家之一。
Born to a nobleman but raised in poverty from a very young age following the untimely death of his father,
孔子生于富贵却长于贫苦，因为他的父亲过早离世，
Confucius developed what would become a lifelong sympathy for the suffering of the common people.
孔子形成了悲天悯人的情怀，这种情怀跟随他的一生。
Barely supporting his mother and disabled brother as a herder and account keeper at a granary, and with other odd jobs,
孔子几乎不能养活他的母亲和残疾的弟弟，他做过牧人和谷仓的记账员，还有其他零散的工作，
it was only with the help of a wealthy friend that Confucius was able to study at the Royal Archives,
在一个富有朋友的帮助下他才得以在皇家档案馆学习，
where his world view would be formed.
在那里他形成自己的世界观。
Though the ancient texts there were regarded by some as irrelevant relics of the past, Confucius was inspired by them.
尽管那里的古籍会被某些人认为是无关痛痒的陈腐之说，它们却激励着孔子。
Through study and reflection, Confucius came to believe that human character is formed in the family
通过学习和反思，孔子逐渐相信人的性格是在家庭中形成的，
and by education in ritual, literature, and history.
并且还受到礼仪，文学和历史教育的影响。
A person cultivated in this way works to help others, guiding them by moral inspiration rather than brute force.
在这种方式下培养出来的人乐于去帮助他人，通过道德而不是暴力去引导他人。
To put his philosophy into practice, Confucius became an advisor to the ruler of his home state of Lu.
为了将他的哲学付诸实践，孔子成为了他故乡所在地鲁国君主的谋士。
But after another state sent Lu's ruler a troop of dancing girls as a present
但是在得到另一个国家送来的一群舞姬后，
and the ruler ignored his duties while enjoying the girls in private, Confucius resigned in disgust.
鲁国君主沉迷舞色疏于朝政，孔子厌恶至极，辞去职务。
He then spent the next few years traveling from state to state,
他在接下来的几年时间里游历列国，
trying to find a worthy ruler to serve, while holding fast to his principles. It wasn't easy.
他坚守着自己的信念，尝试去寻找一个值得他效力的君主。但是事与愿违。
孔子是谁 又是个什么样的人?
In accordance with his philosophy, and contrary to the practice of the time,
依照着自己的信念，却与时代的实际背道而驰，
Confucius dissuaded rulers from relying on harsh punishments and military power to govern their lands
孔子劝阻君主通过残酷的刑罚和军队力量去统治国家，
because he believed that a good ruler inspires others to spontaneously follow him by virtue of his ethical charisma.
因为他相信一个好的君主可以让其他人自发地追随他，被他美德的魅力所吸引。
Confucius also believed that because the love and respect we learn in the family are fundamental to all other virtues,
孔子还相信从家庭中学到的爱和尊重是其他美德的基石，
personal duties to family sometimes supersede obligations to the state.
个人对家庭的责任有时候会取代他对国家的义务。
So when one duke bragged that his subjects were so upright
有一次一个公爵向孔子吹嘘他的子民有多么的正直，
that a son testified against his own father when his father stole a sheep,
儿子会告发自己的父亲，原因是他的父亲偷了一只羊，
Confucius informed the duke that genuinely upright fathers and sons protected one another.
孔子就告诉这个公爵，真正正直的父亲和儿子是会保护对方的。
During his travels, Confucius almost starved, he was briefly imprisoned,
在他游历期间，孔子几乎是挨饿的，还被短暂囚禁过，
and his life was threatened at several points. But he was not bitter.
甚至有几次他的生命也受到威胁，但是他并不痛苦。
Confucius had faith that heaven had a plan for the world,
孔子有个信念：命里自有安排，
and he taught that a virtuous person could always find joy in learning and music.
他教导他的学生：一个高尚的人总能在学习和音乐中找到快乐。
Failing to find the ruler he sought,
在找寻他理想的君主失败后，
Confucius returned to Lu and became a teacher and philosopher so influential,
孔子回到了鲁国，成为了一位老师和有影响力的思想家，
that he helped shaped Chinese culture and we recognize his name worldwide, even today.
他帮助塑造了中国的文化，直至今天，全世界都知道他的名字。
For the disciples of Confucius, he was the living embodiment of a sage who leads others through his virtue,
对于孔子的门徒来说，他是通过美德去引导他人的圣人化身，
and they recorded his sayings, which eventually were edited into a book we know in English as 'The Analects.'
他们记录下他说的话，这些话最终编成了一本书，名叫《论语》。
Today, millions of people worldwide adhere to the principles of Confucianism,
今天，全世界很多人在坚守孔子的原则，
and though the precise meaning of his words has been debated for millennia,
尽管千百年他的话的确切含义一直被争论着，
when asked to summarize his teachings in a single phrase,
但当他被要求用一句话去概括自己的思想时，
Confucius himself said, 'Do not inflict upon others that which you yourself would not want.'
孔子自己说：“己所不欲，勿施于人。”
2,500 years later, it's still sage advice.
这句话放到2500年后，仍然是一条明智的建议