Analects 14.5
The Analects (論語), BOOK XIV. HSIEN WAN 憲問第十四
子曰、有德者、必有言、有言者、不必有德、仁者、必有勇、勇者、不必有仁。
The Master said, "The virtuous will be sure to speak correctly, but those whose speech is good may not always be virtuous. Men of principle are sure to be bold, but those who are bold may not always be men of principle."
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
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 德déethics, morality; compassion, kindness
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 必bìsurely, certainly; must; will
- 言yánwords, speech; to speak, to say
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 仁rénbenevolent, humane, kind
- 勇yǒngbrave, courageous, fierce
Passages with shared wording
- Zhuangzi The Tao of God
- Zhuangzi Lieh Tzŭ
- Analects 11.25
- Analects 17.23
- Zhuangzi Knowledge travels North
- Zhuangzi Man Among Men
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.