Analects 12.21
The Analects (論語), BOOK XII. YEN YUAN 顏淵第十二
樊遲從遊於舞雩之下。曰、敢問崇德、修慝、辨惑。子曰、善哉問。先事後得、非崇德與、攻其惡、無攻人之惡、非修慝與、一朝之忿、忘其身以及其親、非惑與。
1. Fan Ch'ih rambling with the Master under the trees about the rain altars, said, "I venture to ask how to exalt virtue, to correct cherished evil, and to discover delusions."
2. The Master said, "Truly a good question!
3. "If doing what is to be done be made the first business, and success a secondary consideration;—is not this the way to exalt virtue? To assail one's own wickedness and not assail that of others;—is not this the way to correct cherished evil? For a morning's anger to disregard one's own life, and involve that of his parents;—is not this a case of delusion?"
Character glossary
- 樊fánrailing, fence, enclosed place
- 遲chítardy, slow, late; to delay
- 從cóngfrom, by, since, whence, through
- 遊yóusto wander, to travel, to roam
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 舞wǔto dance; to brandish
- 雩yúto offer a sacrifice for rain
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 下xiàbelow, underneath; inferior; to bring do
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 敢gǎnbold, brave; to dare, to venture
- 問wènto ask about, to inquire after
- 崇chónghigh, dignified; to esteem, to honor
- 德déethics, morality; compassion, kindness
- 修xiūto study; to repair; to decorate; to cul
- 慝tèan evil thought; sin, vice
- 辨biànto recognize, to distinguish, to discrim
- 惑huòto confuse, to mislead; to doubt
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 善shàngood, virtuous, charitable, kind
- 哉zāifinal exclamatory particle
- 先xiānfirst, former, previous
- 事shìaffair, matter, business; to serve; acci
- 後hòuafter; behind, rear; descendants
- 得déto obtain, to get, to acquire; suitable,
- 非fēinot, negative, non-; to oppose
- 與yǔand; with; to; for; to give, to grant
- 攻gōngto accuse; to assault; to criticize
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 惡èbad, evil, wicked; to hate, to loathe; f
- 無wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 人rénman, person; people
- 一yīone; a, an; alone
- 朝cháoto face; direct, facing; dynasty; mornin
- 忿fènanger, fury; exasperation
- 忘wàngto forget, to miss, to neglect, to overl
- 身shēnbody, torso; person; pregnancy
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 及jíto extend; to reach; and; in time
- 親qīnrelatives, parents; intimate; the hazeln
Passages with shared wording
- Analects 12.10
- Zhuangzi The Identity of Contraries
- Zhuangzi Man Among Men
- Zhuangzi The Great Supreme
- Zhuangzi Mountain Trees
- Zhuangzi Robber Chê
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.