Analects 4.25 · Li Ren
“Virtue is never solitary; it always has neighbors.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
德不孤 必有鄰 (dé bù gū, bì yǒu lín) means “Virtue is never solitary; it always has neighbors.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 25.
德不孤 必有鄰
- Pinyin
- dé bù gū, bì yǒu lín
- Translation
- Virtue is never solitary; it always has neighbors.
- Source
- Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 25
What does this passage mean?
Virtue means moral character, while neighbors are those who gather nearby. This passage from Li Ren expresses Confucius’s confidence that a virtuous person is never ultimately alone. It is thought to come from a period when he traveled among states, unable to find a place where his ideals could be realized and often feeling isolated. Walking the right path alone can be lonely, but the saying promises that people who share the same purpose will eventually appear.
How can we apply it today?
This passage offers comfort to anyone who feels isolated while doing what is right. A person who acts honestly in an organization may suffer in the short term, but over time others who share those values will gather. Just as customers gather around a good shop, good people naturally gather around a person of virtue. If the path is right, companions will appear even when the road begins in solitude.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Have you felt lonely while doing what was right?
- ·What kinds of people does your virtue draw around you?
- ·Whose neighbor or companion would you like to become?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 德 | dé | virtue | 15 | 彳 (step) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 孤 | gū | lonely | 8 | 子 (child) |
| 必 | bì | certainly | 5 | 心 (heart) |
| 有 | yǒu | exist | 6 | 月 (moon) |
| 鄰 | lín | neighbor | 15 | 邑 (city) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Virtue is never solitary; it always has…” mean?
德不孤 必有鄰 (dé bù gū, bì yǒu lín) means “Virtue is never solitary; it always has neighbors.” It comes from the Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 25.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 4.25: Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 25.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
This passage offers comfort to anyone who feels isolated while doing what is right.