Ask for the translation of "The Analects of Confucius" says, "Sixty or seventy, such as fifty or sixty, ask for it. If you wait for three years, you can satisfy the people."

If I govern a country that is sixty, seventy, or fifty or sixty miles across, I can make the people rich in three years.

This sentence comes from "Zi Lu, Zeng Xi, Ran You, and Gong Xihua Sitting" is selected from the chapter "The Analects·Advanced", and the title was added by later generations. The article records a passage between Confucius and his four disciples, Zilu, Zeng Xi, Ran You and Gong Xihua. It vividly reproduces the situation where Confucius and his students talked about their ideals together.

Zi Lu's rashness and impatience, Ran You's humility, Gong Xihua's euphemism, and Zeng Xi's elegance and tranquility left a very deep impression on people. It is a very readable article.

Extended information:

Excerpt from the original text:

Master 哂 (shěn).

"What do you think of me?"

The answer is: "The square is sixty or seventy, such as fifty or sixty. If you ask for it, it can be compared to (bì) and three years." Satisfied with the people, it is like a gentleman."

"Chi, what's the matter with you?"

He said, "If you can't do it, why don't you learn from the ancestral temple? If you agree with me, Duan Zhangfu, I would like to be the Xiaoxiang Yan."

"Dian, what's the matter with you?"

Drum sexi, kēng'er, let go of the se. He said to him: "It is different from the writings of the three disciples."

Translation:

Confucius smiled slightly (facing him).

"Ran You, how are you?"

(Ran You) replied: "If I were to govern a country that spans sixty or seventy miles or fifty or sixty miles, , after three years, the people will be rich. As for the ritual and music education, we have to wait for the gentleman to implement it. "

"Gong Xihua, how are you?" > (Gong Xihua) replied: "I dare not say what I can do, but I am willing to learn to do something. I am willing to wear a formal dress when performing sacrifices in the ancestral temple, or when the princes gather for alliance or meet the emperor. Hat, be a little master of ceremonies."

"Zeng Xi, how are you?"

(Zeng Xi) The sound of playing the harp gradually became thinner, and with a clang, he put it down. Se straightened up and replied: "I and the three of them have different political talents." Confucius said: "What does it matter? Also tell me your ambition.