阳货欲见孔子，孔子不见，归孔子豚。孔子时其亡也而往拜之，遇诸涂。谓孔子曰：“来，予与尔言。”曰：“怀其宝而迷其邦，可谓仁乎？”曰：“不可。”“好从事而亟失时，可谓知乎？”曰：“不可！”“日月逝矣，岁不我与！”孔子曰：“诺，吾将仕矣。”

Yang Huo in power wished Confucius to call on him, but Confucius would not, so he sent a sucking pig to Confucius, and Confucius paid him a visit when he was not at home. But unexpectedly they met on the way. Yang Huo said to Confucius, "Come, I have something to tell you. Is it good for a talent to leave his state in chaos? No. Is it wise for a candidate to lose an opportunity? No, The days and months pass by. The years will wait for no man." Confucius said ironically, "Yes, how could I not serve!"

子曰：“性相近也，习相远也。”

Men are born, said the Master, nearly alike by nature, but become different by practice.

子曰：“唯上知与下愚不移。”

Only the wisest man and the most foolish, said the Master, cannot be changed.

子之武城，闻弦歌之声。夫子莞尔而笑，曰：“割鸡焉用牛刀？”子游对曰：“昔者偃也闻诸夫子曰：‘君子学道则爱人，小人学道则易使也。’”子曰：“二三子，偃之言是也！前言戏之耳。”

The Master came to the small town of Wu where Zi You was the ruler. When he heard sacred songs and stringed music, he said with a smile, "Is it necessary to kill a chicken with an ox-knife?" Zi You said, "Formerly, I heard you say that a cultured man well-bred in music would do good to the people, and an uncultured man well-bred in music would be easy to employ." The Master said to two or three disciples, "Zi You is right. I have just said that for fun."

公山弗扰以费畔，召，子欲往。子路不说，曰：“末之也已，何必公山氏之之也？”子曰：“夫召我者而岂徒哉？如有用我者，吾其为东周乎！”

Gongshan Furao, holding the fief of Fei in revolt, sent for the Master who was inclined to go. Displeased, Zi Lu said, "Why would you like to go to him of all people?" The Master said, "Could he send for me without reason? If anyone were to employ me, I would make ritual and music prosper in his state as in the Eastern Zhou."

来源：翻译大王