Analects 14.4
The Analects (論語), BOOK XIV. HSIEN WAN 憲問第十四
子曰、邦有道、危言危行、邦無道、危行言孫。
The Master said, "When good government prevails in a state, language may be lofty and bold, and actions the same. When bad government prevails, the actions may be lofty and bold, but the language may be with some reserve."
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 邦bāngcountry, nation, state
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
- 危wēidangerous, precarious; high
- 言yánwords, speech; to speak, to say
- 行xíngto go, to walk, to move; professional
- 無wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 孫sūngrandchild, descendent; surname
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.