Analects 4.12 · Li Ren
“If you act solely with profit in mind, you will incur much resentment.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
放於利而行 多怨 (fàng yú lì ér xíng, duō yuàn) means “If you act solely with profit in mind, you will incur much resentment.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 12.
放於利而行 多怨
- Pinyin
- fàng yú lì ér xíng, duō yuàn
- Translation
- If you act solely with profit in mind, you will incur much resentment.
- Source
- Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 12
What does this passage mean?
Acting according to profit means using gain as the sole standard, while much resentment describes the response this provokes in others. Like the contrast between the exemplary person’s concern for righteousness and the petty person’s concern for profit, the passage does not condemn benefit itself. It warns against pursuing nothing else.
How can we apply it today?
Profit matters in business, but pursuing it alone destroys relationships. A company that regards employees only as costs, a business that sees customers only as revenue, and a person who judges friends by usefulness may gain briefly but accumulate resentment and distrust over time. Balancing benefit with relationship is the key to sustainable success.
Questions to reflect on
- ·When has profit damaged one of your relationships?
- ·Do you think first about advantage when dealing with people?
- ·Which is the more durable asset, profit or relationship?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 放 | fàng | release; follow | 8 | 攴 (tap) |
| 於 | yú | at; in | 8 | 方 (square) |
| 利 | lì | beneficial | 7 | 刀 (knife) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 行 | xíng | practice | 6 | 行 (walk) |
| 多 | duō | many | 6 | 夕 (evening) |
| 怨 | yuàn | resent | 9 | 心 (heart) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “If you act solely with profit in mind, you…” mean?
放於利而行 多怨 (fàng yú lì ér xíng, duō yuàn) means “If you act solely with profit in mind, you will incur much resentment.” It comes from the Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 12.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 4.12: Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 12.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Profit matters in business, but pursuing it alone destroys relationships.