Translation - Analects 2.10 - 2.15 The Sage and Learning

子曰：「溫故而知新，可以為師矣。」

Zǐ yuē:`Wēn gù'ér zhī xīn, kěyǐ wéi shī yǐ.'

The master said: Reviewing the old and then understanding the new. In this way (you) become a teacher.

子曰：「君子不器。」

Zǐ yuē:`Jūnzǐ bù qì.'

The master said: the sage is not an instrument (receptacle).

子貢問君子。子曰：「先行其言，而後從之。」

Zi gòng wèn jūnzǐ. Zǐ yuē:`Xiānxíng qí yán, érhòu cóng zhī.'

Zi Gong asked about the sage (junzi). The master said, "First going forth (enacting) his words, and then afterwards accompanying it [with speech]." 

子曰：「君子周而不比，小人比而不周。」

Zǐ yuē:`Jūnzǐ zhōu ér bùbǐ, xiǎo rén bǐ ér bù zhōu.'

The master said: The sage (Junzi) considers but does not compare. The small person compares but does not consider.

子曰：「學而不思則罔，思而不學則殆。」

Zǐ yuē:`Xué ér bù sī zé wǎng, sī ér bù xué zé dài.'

The master said: studying without reflection leads to (self) deception; thinking without studying leads to danger (perilous circumstances).

溫故而知新

This is a well-known phrase. However, the use of 溫 is interesting because it usually means "warm," or "to heat up." This may be an analogy, or it may indicate something about the feeling of recalling the past in a way that is pleasant. If this is the case, then it echoes 1.1, where learning and then applying knowledge is enjoyable. I think there is something to this, as we often delight in clearly recalling what we know and seeing how it can be applied to our present circumstances. However, this passage also suggests that recalling the past is important for understanding the new. This makes sense in light of a general concern in the Zhou dynasty with seeking to understand patterns of natural transformation and how those patterns help make the process of change intelligible and predictable. This is seen in Shang Dynasty scapulmancy, ancestor worship, early Yin-yang thought, the Book of Change (Yijing) and the Confucian interest in the Rites and Odes. There is a general sense in each of these that recalling the lessons of the past to understand the patterns of the present assists with successfully moving into the future.

器

This is often translated as vessel. It can also be translated as instrument. Both imply important concerns regarding the behavior of the sage.

先行其言，而後從之。

Legge gives, "He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions." This requires reading 先行其言 in a before/after sense, which seems odd. The passage uses 而 to create a temporal disjunction between 行 going forth and 從 coming from. In addition, 其 is often a pronoun.

These points suggest modifying the translation to something like, "First going forth (enacting) his words, and then afterwards accompanying it [with speech]." There is an interesting contrast between something moving forward and something following after. Also, the analects in general value trustworthiness or acting according to one's word, and also listening to others. Ames and Rosemont give, "They first accomplish what they are going to say, and only then say it." I think this is more correct.