Analects 2.21
The Analects (論語), BOOK II. WEI CHANG 爲政第二
或謂孔子曰、子奚不爲政。子曰、書云孝乎、惟孝友于兄弟、施於有政、是亦爲政、奚其爲爲政。
1. Some one addressed Confucius, saying, "Sir, why are you not engaged in the government?"
2. The Master said, "What does the Shu-ching say of filial piety?—'You are filial, you discharge your brotherly duties. These qualities are displayed in government.' This then also constitutes the exercise of government. Why must there be that—making one be in the government?"
James Legge (1861), Confucian Analects, The Chinese Classics vol. 1 (1861; 2nd ed. 1893) — public domain.
Character glossary
- 或huòor, either, else; maybe, perhaps, possib
- 謂wèito call, to say, to tell; name, title; m
- 孔kǒngopening, hole, orifice; great
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 奚xīwhere, what, why, how
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 爲wèido, handle, govern, act; be
- 政zhènggovernment, politics
- 書shūbook, letter, document; writing
- 云yúncloud; to say, to speak
- 孝xiàofilial piety, obedience; mourning
- 乎hūinterrogative or exclamatory final parti
- 惟wéibut, however, nevertheless; only
- 友yǒufriend, companion; fraternity
- 于yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 兄xiōngelder brother
- 弟dìyoung brother, junior
- 施shīto grant, to bestow; to act; surname
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 是shìto be; indeed, right, yes; okay
- 亦yìalso, too; likewise
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
Passages with shared wording
- Analects 14.43
- Zhuangzi The Circling Sky
- Zhuangzi Autumn Floods
- Analects 13.14
- Analects 13.3
- Mencius 3A.4
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.