Analects 15.15 · Wei Ling Gong
“Demand much of yourself and little of others, and you will keep resentment at a distance.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
躬自厚而薄責於人 則遠怨矣 (gōng zì hòu ér bó zé yú rén, zé yuǎn yuàn yǐ) means “Demand much of yourself and little of others, and you will keep resentment at a distance.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 15.
躬自厚而薄責於人 則遠怨矣
- Pinyin
- gōng zì hòu ér bó zé yú rén, zé yuǎn yuàn yǐ
- Translation
- Demand much of yourself and little of others, and you will keep resentment at a distance.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 15
What does this passage mean?
Demanding much of oneself means applying a strict standard inwardly; blaming others lightly means being restrained in criticism. Keeping resentment far away means avoiding conduct that gives others cause to resent us. The passage presents a central principle of relationships: hold yourself to a high standard while extending generosity to others.
How can we apply it today?
Some people excuse their own mistakes at work while judging everyone else’s mistakes severely, and resentment naturally gathers around them. People who are demanding of themselves and generous toward others, by contrast, earn respect. The important step is to eliminate the double standard. Before criticizing someone, ask whether you meet that standard yourself.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Are you stricter with yourself or with other people?
- ·Do you apply your criticisms of others to yourself?
- ·When has generosity improved one of your relationships?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 躬 | gōng | personally | 10 | 身 (body) |
| 自 | zì | oneself | 6 | 自 (self) |
| 厚 | hòu | profound | 9 | 厂 (cliff) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 薄 | bó | thin | 16 | 艸 (grass) |
| 責 | zé | rebuke | 11 | 貝 (shell) |
| 於 | yú | at; in | 8 | 方 (square) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 則 | zé | then; immediately | 9 | 刀 (knife) |
| 遠 | yuǎn | grow distant | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
| 怨 | yuàn | resent | 9 | 心 (heart) |
| 矣 | yǐ | grammatical particle | 7 | 矢 (arrow) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Demand much of yourself and little of…” mean?
躬自厚而薄責於人 則遠怨矣 (gōng zì hòu ér bó zé yú rén, zé yuǎn yuàn yǐ) means “Demand much of yourself and little of others, and you will keep resentment at a distance.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 15.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.15: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 15.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Some people excuse their own mistakes at work while judging everyone else’s mistakes severely, and resentment naturally gathers around them.