【原文】
司馬牛問君子，子曰：〝君子不憂不懼。〞曰：〝不憂不懼，斯謂之君子已乎？〞子曰：〝內省不疚，夫何憂何懼？〞
【參考譯文】
司馬牛問怎樣才算得上是君子，孔子說：〝君子不憂愁，不恐懼。〞
司馬牛說：〝不憂愁，不恐懼，就可以叫做君子嗎？〞孔子說：〝能做到問心無愧的人，還有什麼憂愁，有什麼恐懼呢？〞
【English Translation】
Sima Niu asked about being a gentleman. Confucius said: "A gentleman is without anxiety and fear. " Sima Niu asked: "If a person does not fear or worry, does that mean he is a gentleman? "
Confucius said: "Can a man with a clear conscience ever have any worries andfears? "
Notes: Sima Niu was informed that his brother, Sima Huan, was going to start aninsurrection which brought him much fear and worry. Confucius said these to him asan encouragement.