Analects 1.9
The Analects (論語), BOOK I. HSIO R 學而第一
曾子曰、愼終追遠、民德歸厚矣。
The philosopher Tsang said, "Let there be a careful attention to perform the funeral rites to parents, and let them be followed when long gone with the ceremonies of sacrifice;—then the virtue of the people will resume its proper excellence."
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 曾céngalready, formerly, once; the past
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 愼shènact with care, be cautious
- 終zhōngend; finally, in the end
- 追zhuīto pursue, to chase after; to expel
- 遠yuǎndistant, remote, far; profound
- 民míncitizens, subjects; a nation's people
- 德déethics, morality; compassion, kindness
- 歸guīto return, to go back; to return to, to
- 厚hòugenerous; substantial; deep (as a friend
- 矣yǐparticle of completed action
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.