Analects 15.36 · Wei Ling Gong
“When humaneness is at stake, do not defer even to your teacher.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
當仁不讓於師 (dāng rén bù ràng yú shī) means “When humaneness is at stake, do not defer even to your teacher.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 36.
當仁不讓於師
- Pinyin
- dāng rén bù ràng yú shī
- Translation
- When humaneness is at stake, do not defer even to your teacher.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 36
What does this passage mean?
When humaneness is at stake, one should not yield even to a teacher. In Confucian culture the teacher held the highest authority, yet the practice of humaneness took priority even there. The passage shows how important and unconditional that practice is, while also warning against blind submission to authority.
How can we apply it today?
We need courage to refuse even a supervisor’s instruction when it is ethically wrong. In the face of what is right, rank should not decide our action. This is not disloyalty but loyalty to a higher value. People worthy of respect are not those who follow blindly, but those who speak for what is right.
Questions to reflect on
- ·When have you challenged authority for something you believed was right?
- ·What difficulties did you face?
- ·What values will you not surrender?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 當 | dāng | ought to | 13 | 田 (field) |
| 仁 | rén | benevolent | 4 | 人 (person) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 讓 | ràng | yield | 20 | 言 (speech) |
| 於 | yú | at; in | 8 | 方 (square) |
| 師 | shī | teacher | 10 | 巾 (turban) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “When humaneness is at stake, do not defer…” mean?
當仁不讓於師 (dāng rén bù ràng yú shī) means “When humaneness is at stake, do not defer even to your teacher.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 36.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.36: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 36.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
We need courage to refuse even a supervisor’s instruction when it is ethically wrong.In the face of what is right, rank should not decide our action.