Analects 4.17 · Li Ren
“When you see someone worthy, think of becoming their equal; when you see someone unworthy, look within and examine yourself.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
見賢思齊焉 見不賢而內自省也 (jiàn xián sī qí yān, jiàn bù xián ér nèi zì xǐng yě) means “When you see someone worthy, think of becoming their equal; when you see someone unworthy, look within and examine yourself.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 17.
見賢思齊焉 見不賢而內自省也
- Pinyin
- jiàn xián sī qí yān, jiàn bù xián ér nèi zì xǐng yě
- Translation
- When you see someone worthy, think of becoming their equal; when you see someone unworthy, look within and examine yourself.
- Source
- Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 17
What does this passage mean?
Thinking of becoming equal means seeking to emulate someone, while examining oneself within means turning reflection inward. The passage describes two ways of learning through other people. From admirable people we identify qualities to follow; from people who behave badly we gain a cautionary example. Confucius taught that every encounter can become an opportunity to learn.
How can we apply it today?
We tend to accept only people we admire as teachers, but Confucius says we can also learn from those who unsettle us. A poor manager can prompt us to resolve never to lead that way; a successful colleague can motivate us to make a similar effort. Every relationship becomes a mirror for growth. The important thing is not to spend our energy judging others, but to turn what we see into self-examination.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Who has recently made you want to emulate them?
- ·Have you ever recognized something of yourself in behavior you disliked?
- ·When you criticize others, do you apply the same standard to yourself?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 見 | jiàn | see | 7 | 見 (see) |
| 賢 | xián | worthy; virtuous | 15 | 貝 (shell) |
| 思 | sī | think | 9 | 心 (heart) |
| 齊 | qí | even; orderly | 14 | 齊 (even) |
| 焉 | yān | grammatical particle | 11 | 火 (fire) |
| 見 | jiàn | see | 7 | 見 (see) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 賢 | xián | worthy; virtuous | 15 | 貝 (shell) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 內 | nèi | inside | 4 | 入 (enter) |
| 自 | zì | oneself | 6 | 自 (self) |
| 省 | xǐng | examine | 9 | 目 (eye) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “When you see someone worthy, think of…” mean?
見賢思齊焉 見不賢而內自省也 (jiàn xián sī qí yān, jiàn bù xián ér nèi zì xǐng yě) means “When you see someone worthy, think of becoming their equal; when you see someone unworthy, look within and examine yourself.” It comes from the Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 17.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 4.17: Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 17.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
We tend to accept only people we admire as teachers, but Confucius says we can also learn from those who unsettle us.