本章課程重點包括：

一、子貢為何要問君子？

子貢在《論語》中問孔子很多的問題，他也是善問的人。此處他問君子，因為君子是做人處事裡面很重要的形象跟內涵，但是如何定義君子？如何學習才能成為君子？君子有何價值？都要問清楚。我們可以整理孔子針對不同弟子所做的回答，來了解君子的全貌。

二、先做再說，言語謹慎，才能維持言語的價值

孔子在本章所說的君子，是能夠先做再說的人。無論辦事、做學問，講話都要保守，不能說得太滿，不能言過其實，維持自己的信用，才能維持言語的價值。

三、有些事情要先說再做

某些場合中，為了確立辦事的動機、方法、意義，必須先說清楚才做，所以究竟是言語在前還是辦事在前，都要能夠看場合運用。

為政篇第十三章白話解釋

【經文】

子貢問君子。子曰：先行其言，而後從之。

【白話解釋】

解法一：

子貢請問孔子，怎樣做才能成為君子。孔子回答，君子先行，其言而後從之。也就是事情先做出來，後面言語再跟從，如此言從其行，能避免言過其行。若能言行相符，即是君子，若言而不行，是君子所恥。

解法二：

子貢請問孔子，怎樣做才能成為君子。孔子回答，君子行為要先兌現言語所說，而且是說得少，做得多，所謂微言而篤行，行必先人，言必後人。

【章旨】

此章是夫子教人以實行為先，做一個言行一致的君子。

《論語講要》原文

此章所說的君子小人，是就品德而言。君子是有德之人，小人是無德之人。周比二字，古注或作公私講，或作義利講，或作普遍與偏黨講。今依公私講法。公就是周，私就是比。君子辦事，為公，而不為私。平時修養，亦是去其私心，存其公心。此即周而不比。小人辦事，為私，而不為公。無事時，心中所想的，也是有私無公。此即比而不周。公是公平正直，私則與此相反。分辨君子與小人，即在公私二字。

此章古注，孔安國說：「忠信為周，阿黨為比。」皇疏：「周是博遍之法，故謂為忠信。比是親狎之法，故謂為阿黨。」皇疏又引孫綽說：「理備故稱周，無私故不比。」邢疏說，孔注忠信為周，是國語魯語之文。劉氏正義引呂氏春秋達鬱篇注：「阿，曲媚也。」劉氏說：「阿黨與忠信相反，正君子小人性情之異。」

English

Teacher Tang Yuling will accompany you to read The Analects 30

30    Book 2 Wei Zheng (Of Governance), Chapter 13

Zi Gong asked what constituted the superior man. The Master said, “He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.”

Highlights of this lecture include:

1. Why did Zi Gong ask about a superior man—Junzi?

  Zi Gong is preeminence in speech. He asked Confucius a lot of questions as recorded in The Analects. This time he asked the Master what is a junzi. The question is important because of the image and concepts a junzi represents. Then, a series of questions come forth and shall be clarified: What is a junzi and his definition? How does one become a junzi? Why does he matter? A more holistic picture about a junzi can be outlined by picking up every individual answer Confucius given to his disciples in different occasions.

2. Do it before you say it, and prudent words can maintain its value

  In this chapter, Confucius said a junzi has to put into actions before speaking out. No matter what you do or on learning, you must be conservative in your speech. You should not exaggerate or overstate about the truths. So that you can maintain your creditability and the value of your speech. This is how with the junzi words follow actions.

3. But sometimes we have to speak clearly before actions taken

   In some cases, in order to establish the motivation, methods, and meanings of the tasks to be done, we must speak clearly beforehand. Therefore, what is the priority, speak or act first? It all depends on the situations.