Analects 14.31 · Xian Wen
“Without anticipating deceit or presuming bad faith, yet still perceiving them early—is that not the mark of a worthy person?”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
不逆詐 不億不信 抑亦先覺者 是賢乎 (bù nì zhà, bù yì bù xìn, yì yì xiān jué zhě, shì xián hū) means “Without anticipating deceit or presuming bad faith, yet still perceiving them early—is that not the mark of a worthy person?” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 31.
不逆詐 不億不信 抑亦先覺者 是賢乎
- Pinyin
- bù nì zhà, bù yì bù xìn, yì yì xiān jué zhě, shì xián hū
- Translation
- Without anticipating deceit or presuming bad faith, yet still perceiving them early—is that not the mark of a worthy person?
- Source
- Analects, Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 31
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Xian Wen chapter, Confucius describes a wise attitude toward others. 逆詐 means assuming in advance that someone will deceive us, while 億不信 means presuming that another person will not trust us. 先覺, however, means recognizing deceit promptly when it actually occurs. The essence of wisdom lies in this delicate balance: meeting the world without suspicion while remaining alert enough to discern the truth.
How can we apply it today?
If we begin by suspecting people, no relationship can form; if we trust unconditionally, we may be exploited. Confucius proposes an attitude of 'trust by default without surrendering discernment.' In business, collaboration becomes impossible when partners begin with suspicion, yet handing over everything without verification is dangerous. We need the wisdom to remain open and free of prejudice while perceiving the essence of the situation. This is the difference between innocence and wisdom.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Do I approach people with suspicion first or trust first?
- ·After being deceived, have I come to distrust people generally?
- ·How do I balance trust with discernment?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 逆 | nì | defy | 10 | 辵 (walk) |
| 詐 | zhà | deceive | 12 | 言 (speech) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 億 | yì | reckon | 15 | 人 (person) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 信 | xìn | trust | 9 | 人 (person) |
| 抑 | yì | or rather; yet | 7 | 手 (hand) |
| 亦 | yì | also | 6 | 亠 (lid) |
| 先 | xiān | first | 6 | 儿 (legs) |
| 覺 | jué | understand | 20 | 見 (see) |
| 者 | zhě | one; person | 8 | 老 (old) |
| 是 | shì | this | 9 | 日 (sun) |
| 賢 | xián | worthy; virtuous | 15 | 貝 (shell) |
| 乎 | hū | grammatical particle | 5 | 丿 (slash) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Without anticipating deceit or presuming…” mean?
不逆詐 不億不信 抑亦先覺者 是賢乎 (bù nì zhà, bù yì bù xìn, yì yì xiān jué zhě, shì xián hū) means “Without anticipating deceit or presuming bad faith, yet still perceiving them early—is that not the mark of a worthy person?” It comes from the Analects, Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 31.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 14.31: Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 31.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
If we begin by suspecting people, no relationship can form; if we trust unconditionally, we may be exploited.Confucius proposes an attitude of 'trust by default without surrendering discernment.