Analects 4.2 · Li Ren
“Those without humaneness cannot endure hardship for long, nor can they enjoy comfort for long.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
不仁者不可以久處約 不可以長處樂 (bù rén zhě bù kě yǐ jiǔ chǔ yuē, bù kě yǐ cháng chǔ lè) means “Those without humaneness cannot endure hardship for long, nor can they enjoy comfort for long.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 2.
不仁者不可以久處約 不可以長處樂
- Pinyin
- bù rén zhě bù kě yǐ jiǔ chǔ yuē, bù kě yǐ cháng chǔ lè
- Translation
- Those without humaneness cannot endure hardship for long, nor can they enjoy comfort for long.
- Source
- Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 2
What does this passage mean?
In the Li Ren chapter, this passage describes the practical effect of humaneness. 約 means hardship or poverty, while 樂 means abundance or pleasure. Confucius says that people without humaneness reveal their true character in extreme circumstances. Endure poverty too long, and they grow resentful and turn toward wrongdoing; remain prosperous too long, and they become arrogant and indulgent. A humane person, by contrast, remains steady in every circumstance. The life of Yan Hui provided a concrete demonstration of this principle.
How can we apply it today?
A person's true character emerges in the face of sudden unemployment or business failure—and likewise when that person suddenly becomes rich. Statistics showing that many lottery winners go bankrupt within a few years, or that crime rises during economic crises, support the observation in this passage. The inner strength to persevere in hardship and remain humble in prosperity cannot be built overnight. We must cultivate character in ordinary times if we hope to remain steady in a crisis.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What was I like when I faced financial hardship?
- ·Have I ever become arrogant in a time of abundance?
- ·Do I have an inner center that remains steady in every circumstance?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 仁 | rén | benevolent | 4 | 人 (person) |
| 者 | zhě | one; thing | 8 | 老 (old) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 可 | kě | right | 5 | 口 (mouth) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 久 | jiǔ | long | 3 | 丿 (slash) |
| 處 | chǔ | dwell | 11 | 虍 (tiger) |
| 約 | yuē | frugal | 9 | 糸 (silk) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 可 | kě | right | 5 | 口 (mouth) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 長 | cháng | long | 8 | 長 (long) |
| 處 | chǔ | dwell | 11 | 虍 (tiger) |
| 樂 | lè | joyful | 15 | 木 (tree) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Those without humaneness cannot endure…” mean?
不仁者不可以久處約 不可以長處樂 (bù rén zhě bù kě yǐ jiǔ chǔ yuē, bù kě yǐ cháng chǔ lè) means “Those without humaneness cannot endure hardship for long, nor can they enjoy comfort for long.” It comes from the Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 2.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 4.2: Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 2.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
A person's true character emerges in the face of sudden unemployment or business failure—and likewise when that person suddenly becomes rich.