Analects 4.22 · Li Ren
“The ancients were sparing with words, ashamed that their deeds might not keep pace.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
古者言之不出 恥躬之不逮也 (gǔ zhě yán zhī bù chū, chǐ gōng zhī bù dài yě) means “The ancients were sparing with words, ashamed that their deeds might not keep pace.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 22.
古者言之不出 恥躬之不逮也
- Pinyin
- gǔ zhě yán zhī bù chū, chǐ gōng zhī bù dài yě
- Translation
- The ancients were sparing with words, ashamed that their deeds might not keep pace.
- Source
- Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 22
What does this passage mean?
This passage from the twenty-second chapter of Li Ren explains why the ancients did not speak lightly. They were ashamed that their conduct might fail to keep pace with their words, and so they held their words back. Confucius stressed the unity of word and deed again and again. The line pairs with another in the same chapter: the exemplary person wishes to be slow in speech and quick in action. Confucius cautioned against people whose words run ahead of them, and presented as an ancient virtue the prudence of never uttering a word that action could not follow.
How can we apply it today?
Social media is the easiest place in the world to put words out. Declarations, resolutions, criticisms, and promises go out to the world with a few taps. But as words became easier, their weight decreased. The shame of the ancients has become, for us, a question of credibility. People who scatter promises they cannot keep and shout for justice they never practice eventually lose the value of their words. Saying less is not passivity but the honesty of knowing the limits of what one’s actions can bear. Not saying what you cannot carry out: that is the shame the ancients kept.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Which of your words has your conduct failed to keep up with?
- ·Do you have the habit of asking whether you can act on something before you say it?
- ·Would you rather be known for saying little or for saying what counts?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 古 | gǔ | old | 5 | 口 (mouth) |
| 者 | zhě | person | 8 | 老 (old) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 出 | chū | emerge | 5 | 凵 (open box) |
| 恥 | chǐ | feel ashamed | 10 | 心 (heart) |
| 躬 | gōng | personally | 10 | 身 (body) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 逮 | dài | reach; catch up | 12 | 辵 (walk) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The ancients were sparing with words…” mean?
古者言之不出 恥躬之不逮也 (gǔ zhě yán zhī bù chū, chǐ gōng zhī bù dài yě) means “The ancients were sparing with words, ashamed that their deeds might not keep pace.” It comes from the Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 22.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 4.22: Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 22.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Social media is the easiest place in the world to put words out.Declarations, resolutions, criticisms, and promises go out to the world with a few taps.