世界浩大、萬物紛陳，有東西是我們所喜歡的，自然也有東西是我們所厭惡的。孔子肯定了人有能力去獲取和擺脫我們所喜歡的和厭惡的，但當中重要的是，我們去達到自己的目的時，用的是「正道」（或「正途」、「正當的方法」）嗎？（在英譯中分別譯為proper way及right way）
然後，孔子從「人」談到「君子」：「君子去仁，惡乎成名」，這是孔子對「君子」意義的其中一條界定：沒有了「仁」的君子，並不能說是真正的君子；「成名」可以解作「變得有名」，但我較傾向「成全了『君子』這個稱號」的意思。
最後一段相當簡單，就是無論時間有多短也好，都不能違背「仁」，與本節開首也可呼應，無論環境際遇理想也好、不理想也好；時間長也好、短也好，仁是做人的根本、第一原則、以至人生在世的終極目標——孔子是這麼認為的。
英譯方面，理雅各把全文分成三小節，分得清晰準確。文句亦譯得工整，尤其把「造次必於是，顛沛必於是」譯成In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.，當中的 cleave to it 相當到位，“cleave to”即continue to believe in or be loyal to something，相反劉殿爵的英譯則較難理解，其譯句可解成：「假如他勿忙或顛簸，別人可肯定他當時仍心存仁愛。」句意稍為迂迴，稍欠了原文語氣中的肯定（「必」於是）。
The Master said, "Riches and honors are what men desire. If it cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held. Poverty and meanness are what men dislike. If it cannot be avoided in the proper way, they should not be avoided.
If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfill the requirements of that name?
"The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it."
Translated by James Legge
The Master said, 'Wealth and high station are what men desire but unless I got them in the right way I would not remain in them. Poverty and low station are what men dislike, but even if I did not get them in the right way I would not try to escape from them. 'If the gentleman forsakes benevolence, in what way can he make a name for himself? The gentleman never deserts benevolence, not even for as long as it takes to eat a meal. If he hurries and stumbles, one may be sure that it is in benevolence that he does so.'
Translated by D.C. Lau
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