Confucius -- The Classic of Poetry [詩經, 诗经], Part 3 “Major Court Hymns [大雅], Book 3 “Decade of Tang [蕩之什],” Ode 11, “Shaou min [召旻]” [Poem 265], st. 2 (10-9th C BC) [tr. Legge (1871)]

Dave — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:15:10 +0000

Heaven sends down its net of crime; —
Devouring insects, who weary and confuse men’s minds,
Ignorant, oppressive, negligent,
Breeders of confusion, utterly perverse:
These are the men employed to tranquilize our country.

天降罪罟、
蟊賊內訌、
昏椓靡共、
潰潰回遹、
實靖夷我邦。

Confucius (c. 551- c. 479 BC) Chinese philosopher, sage, politician [孔夫子 (Kǒng Fūzǐ, K'ung Fu-tzu, K'ung Fu Tse), 孔子 (Kǒngzǐ, Chungni), 孔丘 (Kǒng Qiū, K'ung Ch'iu)]
The Classic of Poetry [詩經, 诗经], Part 3 “Major Court Hymns [大雅], Book 3 “Decade of Tang [蕩之什],” Ode 11, “Shaou min [召旻]” [Poem 265], st. 2 (10-9th C BC) [tr. Legge (1871)]
(Source)

(Source (Chinese)). One of the "Five Classics" (五經) said to have been edited by Confucius.

WIST Quotations

Confucius -- The Classic of Poetry [詩經, 诗经], Part 3 “Major Court Hymns [大雅], Book 3 “Decade of Tang [蕩之什],” Ode 11, “Shaou min [召旻]” [Poem 265], st. 2 (10-9th C BC) [tr. Legge (1871)]