译文
A member of a family of nobles who were in power in Confucius' native State, referring to two disciples of his who were in the service of that powerful family, enquired whether those two disciples could be considered statesmen. "Oh!" replied Confucius, "I thought you had something extraordinary to ask my opinion about. You wish to have my opinion on these men: is that all you want? Men I call statesmen are those who will serve their master according to their sense of duty; who, however, when they find they cannot do that, consistently with their sense of duty, will resign. As to those two men you refer to, — they may be considered as states-functionaries, not statesmen." "But," the noble went on to ask, "will these two men carry out anything they are called upon to do?" "An act of parricide or regicide they will not carry out." answered Confucius.