Analects 19.11 · Zi Zhang
“In matters of great virtue, one must not cross the boundary; in lesser matters, some latitude is permissible.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
大德不踰閑 小德出入可也 (dà dé bù yú xián, xiǎo dé chū rù kě yě) means “In matters of great virtue, one must not cross the boundary; in lesser matters, some latitude is permissible.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 11.
大德不踰閑 小德出入可也
- Pinyin
- dà dé bù yú xián, xiǎo dé chū rù kě yě
- Translation
- In matters of great virtue, one must not cross the boundary; in lesser matters, some latitude is permissible.
- Source
- Analects, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 11
What does this passage mean?
These are Zixia's words in the Zi Zhang chapter. 大德 means great moral principles, while 小德 means minor courtesies or detailed norms. 閑 means a boundary or fence, and 出入 means passing in and out. Great principles must always be preserved, but in minor forms of ritual propriety some flexibility is permissible. This practical teaching balances principled rigor with realism.
How can we apply it today?
When perfectionism takes hold, we lose both great and small things. Treating every rule with identical strictness prevents us from concentrating on what truly matters. At work, we may lose the report's essential content while perfecting its format; in relationships, concern over minor etiquette may block sincere communication. Wisdom means clarifying the great principles while responding flexibly to details.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Am I overly attached to minor details?
- ·Can I distinguish great principles from small rules?
- ·How do I distinguish flexibility from having no principles?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 大 | dà | great | 3 | 大 (big) |
| 德 | dé | virtue | 15 | 彳 (step) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 踰 | yú | cross | 16 | 足 (foot) |
| 閑 | xián | at leisure; fence | 12 | 門 (gate) |
| 小 | xiǎo | small | 3 | 小 (small) |
| 德 | dé | virtue | 15 | 彳 (step) |
| 出 | chū | emerge | 5 | 凵 (open box) |
| 入 | rù | enter | 2 | 入 (enter) |
| 可 | kě | right | 5 | 口 (mouth) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “In matters of great virtue, one must not…” mean?
大德不踰閑 小德出入可也 (dà dé bù yú xián, xiǎo dé chū rù kě yě) means “In matters of great virtue, one must not cross the boundary; in lesser matters, some latitude is permissible.” It comes from the Analects, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 11.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 19.11: Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 11.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
When perfectionism takes hold, we lose both great and small things.Treating every rule with identical strictness prevents us from concentrating on what truly matters.