Analects 8.10 · Tai Bo
“To love courage while hating poverty leads to disorder; to hate an inhumane person too fiercely also leads to disorder.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
好勇疾貧 亂也 人而不仁 疾之已甚 亂也 (hào yǒng jí pín, luàn yě, rén ér bù rén, jí zhī yǐ shèn, luàn yě) means “To love courage while hating poverty leads to disorder; to hate an inhumane person too fiercely also leads to disorder.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 8 (Tai Bo), Chapter 10.
好勇疾貧 亂也 人而不仁 疾之已甚 亂也
- Pinyin
- hào yǒng jí pín, luàn yě, rén ér bù rén, jí zhī yǐ shèn, luàn yě
- Translation
- To love courage while hating poverty leads to disorder; to hate an inhumane person too fiercely also leads to disorder.
- Source
- Analects, Book 8 (Tai Bo), Chapter 10
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Tai Bo chapter, Confucius warns of two dangerous situations. First, those who love courage but hate poverty (好勇疾貧) may let their discontent explode into disorder. Second, hating an inhumane person too fiercely (疾之已甚) may drive that person into a corner and provoke disorder. The second warning is especially striking, revealing Confucius's realistic insight that even righteous anger becomes counterproductive when taken too far.
How can we apply it today?
Social discontent and anger can drive reform, but without restraint they become destructive. A person burning with justice may take extreme action from an inability to tolerate wrong, while moral outrage taken too far may corner an opponent and create a larger problem. Anger at wrongdoing is natural, but wisdom regulates its manner and degree. True competence solves the problem without creating an enemy.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Has excessive anger ever made a situation worse for me?
- ·How do I express anger in the face of injustice?
- ·Can I distinguish righteous anger from destructive anger?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 好 | hào | delight in | 6 | 女 (woman) |
| 勇 | yǒng | brave | 9 | 力 (power) |
| 疾 | jí | hate; affliction | 10 | 疒 (sickness) |
| 貧 | pín | poor | 11 | 貝 (shell) |
| 亂 | luàn | disordered | 13 | 乙 (second) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 仁 | rén | benevolent | 4 | 人 (person) |
| 疾 | jí | hate; affliction | 10 | 疒 (sickness) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 已 | yǐ | already | 3 | 己 (self) |
| 甚 | shèn | excessive | 9 | 甘 (sweet) |
| 亂 | luàn | disordered | 13 | 乙 (second) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “To love courage while hating poverty leads…” mean?
好勇疾貧 亂也 人而不仁 疾之已甚 亂也 (hào yǒng jí pín, luàn yě, rén ér bù rén, jí zhī yǐ shèn, luàn yě) means “To love courage while hating poverty leads to disorder; to hate an inhumane person too fiercely also leads to disorder.” It comes from the Analects, Book 8 (Tai Bo), Chapter 10.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 8.10: Book 8 (Tai Bo), Chapter 10.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Social discontent and anger can drive reform, but without restraint they become destructive.