Analects 3.21 · Ba Yi
“Do not discuss what is already done, remonstrate over what is already under way, or assign blame for what is already past.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
成事不說 遂事不諫 既往不咎 (chéng shì bù shuō, suì shì bù jiàn, jì wǎng bù jiù) means “Do not discuss what is already done, remonstrate over what is already under way, or assign blame for what is already past.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 3 (Ba Yi), Chapter 21.
成事不說 遂事不諫 既往不咎
- Pinyin
- chéng shì bù shuō, suì shì bù jiàn, jì wǎng bù jiù
- Translation
- Do not discuss what is already done, remonstrate over what is already under way, or assign blame for what is already past.
- Source
- Analects, Book 3 (Ba Yi), Chapter 21
What does this passage mean?
This saying appears in the Ba Yi chapter. 成事不說 means not debating the rights and wrongs of something already completed; 遂事不諫 means not remonstrating over something already under way; and 既往不咎 means not blaming what has already passed. The original occasion arose when Duke Ai of Lu asked about the tree planted at the altar of the soil and Confucius's disciple Zai Wo gave an inappropriate answer. Rather than interrogating a mistake that could no longer be undone, Confucius expresses a tolerant spirit focused on what should happen next.
How can we apply it today?
An organization fixates on assigning blame after a project fails. A couple endlessly revives old wrongs. Someone does nothing but lament water already spilled. We often exhaust our energy on what has passed. Confucius offers the practical wisdom of refusing to remain buried in the past and moving toward the future. Reflection is certainly needed to avoid repeating a mistake, but endless regret and accusation change nothing.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Have I wasted energy regretting what was already past or blaming someone for it?
- ·Do I know how to learn from past mistakes without becoming attached to them?
- ·Have I ever forgiven someone for an old wrong?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 成 | chéng | accomplish | 7 | 戈 (halberd) |
| 事 | shì | affair | 8 | 亅 (hook) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 說 | shuō | speak | 14 | 言 (speech) |
| 遂 | suì | accomplish | 12 | 辵 (walk) |
| 事 | shì | affair | 8 | 亅 (hook) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 諫 | jiàn | remonstrate | 16 | 言 (speech) |
| 既 | jì | already | 10 | 无 (not) |
| 往 | wǎng | go | 8 | 彳 (step) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 咎 | jiù | fault | 8 | 口 (mouth) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Do not discuss what is already done…” mean?
成事不說 遂事不諫 既往不咎 (chéng shì bù shuō, suì shì bù jiàn, jì wǎng bù jiù) means “Do not discuss what is already done, remonstrate over what is already under way, or assign blame for what is already past.” It comes from the Analects, Book 3 (Ba Yi), Chapter 21.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 3.21: Book 3 (Ba Yi), Chapter 21.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
An organization fixates on assigning blame after a project fails.A couple endlessly revives old wrongs.Someone does nothing but lament water already spilled.