Analects 15.40 · Wei Ling Gong
“Those who follow different Ways cannot make plans together.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
道不同 不相爲謀 (dào bù tóng, bù xiāng wéi móu) means “Those who follow different Ways cannot make plans together.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 40.
道不同 不相爲謀
- Pinyin
- dào bù tóng, bù xiāng wéi móu
- Translation
- Those who follow different Ways cannot make plans together.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 40
What does this passage mean?
In Wei Ling Gong, the Way means the values and direction a person pursues in life. Not planning together recognizes that people whose fundamental values differ cannot effectively undertake a shared project. Confucius did not insist on limitless inclusion; he treated compatibility of values as a basic condition for close cooperation.
How can we apply it today?
The compulsion to get along with everyone creates its own stress. Forcing cooperation with someone whose basic values conflict with ours can harm both sides. This need not be exclusion; it is a wise decision about where to place our energy. When choosing a business partner, life partner, or teammate, shared values may matter even more than ability.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Are you forcing yourself to maintain a relationship with someone whose values conflict with yours?
- ·What standards guide your choice of collaborators?
- ·Who around you seems to follow the same Way?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 道 | dào | the Way; road | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 同 | tóng | same; like | 6 | 口 (mouth) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 相 | xiāng | one another | 9 | 目 (eye) |
| 爲 | wéi | do | 12 | 爪 (claw) |
| 謀 | móu | plot | 16 | 言 (speech) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Those who follow different Ways cannot make…” mean?
道不同 不相爲謀 (dào bù tóng, bù xiāng wéi móu) means “Those who follow different Ways cannot make plans together.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 40.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.40: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 40.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
The compulsion to get along with everyone creates its own stress.Forcing cooperation with someone whose basic values conflict with ours can harm both sides.