Analects 5.20
The Analects (論語), BOOK V. KUNG-YE CH'ANG 公冶長第五
子曰、甯武子、邦有道、則知、邦無道、則愚、其知可及也、其愚不可及也。
The Master said, "When good order prevailed in his country, Ning Wu acted the part of a wise man. When his country was in disorder, he acted the part of a stupid man. Others may equal his wisdom, but they cannot equal his stupidity."
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
- 甯níngpeaceful
- 武wǔmilitary; martial, warlike
- 邦bāngcountry, nation, state
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
- 則zérule, law, regulation; grades
- 知zhīto know, to perceive, to comprehend
- 無wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 愚yústupid, foolish
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 及jíto extend; to reach; and; in time
- 也yěalso, too
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.