Analects 2.10
The Analects (論語), BOOK II. WEI CHANG 爲政第二
子曰、視其所以。觀其所由。察其所安。人焉廋哉、人焉廋哉。
1. The Master said, "See what a man does.
2. "Mark his motives.
3. "Examine in what things he rests.
4. "How can a man conceal his character?
5. How can a man conceal his character?"
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
- 視shìto look at, to inspect, to observe, to r
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 所suǒplace, location; "that which", a particl
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 觀guānto observe, to spectate; appearance, vie
- 由yóucause, reason; from
- 察cháto examine, to investigate, to observe
- 安ānpeaceful, tranquil, quiet
- 人rénman, person; people
- 焉yānwhy? where? how?; strange; thereupon, th
- 廋sōuconceal, hide; search for, seek
- 哉zāifinal exclamatory particle
Passages with shared wording
- Mencius 4A.15
- Mencius 2A.2
- Analects 14.45
- Zhuangzi Lieh Tzŭ
- Zhuangzi Knowledge travels North
- Mencius 6A.11
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.