Analects 15.23 · Wei Ling Gong
“The exemplary person does not promote someone for words alone, nor dismiss good words because of the person who spoke them.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
君子不以言舉人 不以人廢言 (jūn zǐ bù yǐ yán jǔ rén, bù yǐ rén fèi yán) means “The exemplary person does not promote someone for words alone, nor dismiss good words because of the person who spoke them.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 23.
君子不以言舉人 不以人廢言
- Pinyin
- jūn zǐ bù yǐ yán jǔ rén, bù yǐ rén fèi yán
- Translation
- The exemplary person does not promote someone for words alone, nor dismiss good words because of the person who spoke them.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 23
What does this passage mean?
In Wei Ling Gong, promoting someone for words alone is paired with rejecting sound words because of the person who spoke them. Eloquence does not prove competence; conversely, low status or a poor reputation does not invalidate a good idea. Confucius asks us to separate a statement from its speaker and judge each objectively.
How can we apply it today?
An impressive interview sometimes leads to hiring someone who lacks practical ability, while an inarticulate but highly capable candidate may be overlooked. We also err when we dismiss a new employee’s idea for lack of experience or ignore a fair criticism because the critic is unpopular. Fairness requires judging content by its own value.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Have you judged a person by words alone?
- ·Have your biases caused you to dismiss a good idea?
- ·Why is it difficult to evaluate a statement separately from its speaker?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | jūn | ruler | 7 | 口 (mouth) |
| 子 | zǐ | son | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
| 舉 | jǔ | raise; appoint | 16 | 臼 (mortar) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 廢 | fèi | abolish | 15 | 广 (dotted cliff) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The exemplary person does not promote…” mean?
君子不以言舉人 不以人廢言 (jūn zǐ bù yǐ yán jǔ rén, bù yǐ rén fèi yán) means “The exemplary person does not promote someone for words alone, nor dismiss good words because of the person who spoke them.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 23.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.23: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 23.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
An impressive interview sometimes leads to hiring someone who lacks practical ability, while an inarticulate but highly capable candidate may be overlooked.