Analects 7.16 · Shu Er
“Wealth and rank gained without righteousness are to me like drifting clouds.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
不義而富且貴 於我如浮雲 (bù yì ér fù qiě guì, yú wǒ rú fú yún) means “Wealth and rank gained without righteousness are to me like drifting clouds.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 16.
不義而富且貴 於我如浮雲
- Pinyin
- bù yì ér fù qiě guì, yú wǒ rú fú yún
- Translation
- Wealth and rank gained without righteousness are to me like drifting clouds.
- Source
- Analects, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 16
What does this passage mean?
In Shu Er, unrighteousness means an improper means of acquisition, while drifting clouds suggest something insubstantial and soon dispersed. Wealth and rank obtained unjustly lack reality and quickly vanish. Confucius preserved this principle despite living in poverty. The passage displays both his philosophy of honorable simplicity and his firm commitment to principle.
How can we apply it today?
In an age that treats rapid accumulation of wealth as the measure of success, this saying asks an uncomfortable question: can money earned unjustly really bring happiness? Cases of illicit wealth, tax evasion, and embezzlement in the news usually end in misery. A small sum earned rightly brings greater peace than a fortune earned wrongly. True wealth is a clear conscience, not a bank balance.
Questions to reflect on
- ·When have money and morality come into conflict for you?
- ·What wealth or status in your life might resemble a drifting cloud?
- ·Can you be content with what you obtain by rightful means?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 義 | yì | right | 13 | 羊 (sheep) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 富 | fù | wealthy | 12 | 宀 (roof) |
| 且 | qiě | again | 5 | 一 (one) |
| 貴 | guì | noble | 12 | 貝 (shell) |
| 於 | yú | at; in | 8 | 方 (square) |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | 7 | 戈 (halberd) |
| 如 | rú | same; like | 6 | 女 (woman) |
| 浮 | fú | float | 10 | 水 (water) |
| 雲 | yún | cloud | 12 | 雨 (rain) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Wealth and rank gained without…” mean?
不義而富且貴 於我如浮雲 (bù yì ér fù qiě guì, yú wǒ rú fú yún) means “Wealth and rank gained without righteousness are to me like drifting clouds.” It comes from the Analects, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 16.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 7.16: Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 16.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
In an age that treats rapid accumulation of wealth as the measure of success, this saying asks an uncomfortable question: can money earned unjustly really bring happiness?