Analects 1.2
The Analects (論語), BOOK I. HSIO R 學而第一
有子曰、其爲人也孝弟、而好犯上者鮮矣、不好犯上、而好作亂者、未之有也。君子務本、本立、而道生、孝弟也者、其爲仁之本與。
1. The philosopher Yu said, "They are few who, being filial and fraternal, are fond of offending against their superiors. There have been none, who, not liking to offend against their superiors, have been fond of stirring up confusion.
2. "The superior man bends his attention to what is radical.That being established, all practical courses naturally grow up. Filial piety and fraternal submission!—are they not the root of all benevolent actions?"
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 爲wèido, handle, govern, act; be
- 人rénman, person; people
- 也yěalso, too
- 孝xiàofilial piety, obedience; mourning
- 弟dìyoung brother, junior
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 好hǎogood, excellent, fine; proper, suitable;
- 犯fàncriminal; to violate, to commit a crime
- 上shàngabove, on top, superior; to go up; to at
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 鮮xiānfresh; delicious; attractive
- 矣yǐparticle of completed action
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 作zuòto make; to write, to compose; to act, t
- 亂luànanarchy, chaos; revolt
- 未wèinot yet; 8th terrestrial branch
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 君jūnsovereign, ruler, prince, monarch, chief
- 務wùaffairs, business; should; must
- 本běnroot, origin, source; basis
- 立lìto stand; to establish, to set up
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
- 生shēnglife, lifetime; birth; growth
- 仁rénbenevolent, humane, kind
- 與yǔand; with; to; for; to give, to grant
Passages with shared wording
- The Great Learning Passage 11
- Zhuangzi Knowledge travels North
- Mencius 5A.4
- Art of War 10.14
- Analects 4.23
- Analects 15.3
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.