Confucius on the Unfinished Masterpiece: The Teacher’s Call to Return and Refine

Confucius in Chen said: Let me return! My disciples are ambitious and accomplished, but they do not know how to shape themselves.

When the Master was in Chen, he said, “Let me return! Let me return! The little children of my school are ambitious and too hasty. They are accomplished and complete so far, but they do not know how to restrict and shape themselves.”

子在陈曰:“归与!归与!吾党之小子狂简,斐然成章,不知所以裁之。”

Source: The Analects, Gong Ye Chang V, Chapter 22

Author: Confucius

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