Analects 14.27 · Xian Wen
“The exemplary person is ashamed when words exceed deeds.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
君子恥其言而過其行 (jūn zǐ chǐ qí yán ér guò qí xíng) means “The exemplary person is ashamed when words exceed deeds.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 27.
君子恥其言而過其行
- Pinyin
- jūn zǐ chǐ qí yán ér guò qí xíng
- Translation
- The exemplary person is ashamed when words exceed deeds.
- Source
- Analects, Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 27
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Xian Wen chapter, 恥 means feeling shame, while 過 means surpassing or going ahead. An exemplary person is ashamed when words surpass actions—that is, when one speaks but fails to practice. Confucius emphasizes consistency between word and deed throughout the Analects, and this passage captures that principle with particular concision. To be ashamed when speech runs ahead of conduct is to place action before speech.
How can we apply it today?
We make plans and announce goals, but often fail to act on them. We proclaim grand New Year's resolutions and abandon them within days, or speak loudly in a meeting yet deliver no result. Confucius would have regarded such situations as deeply shameful. Quiet practice is better than posting magnificent aspirations on social media. Simply speaking less and acting more can transform a life.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Of the things I have discussed but failed to practice, which causes me the greatest shame?
- ·Am I someone who places action before words?
- ·What is one small thing I can put into practice today?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | jūn | ruler | 7 | 口 (mouth) |
| 子 | zǐ | son | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 恥 | chǐ | feel ashamed | 10 | 心 (heart) |
| 其 | qí | that; he | 8 | 八 (eight) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 過 | guò | pass | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
| 其 | qí | that; he | 8 | 八 (eight) |
| 行 | xíng | travel | 6 | 行 (walk) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The exemplary person is ashamed when words…” mean?
君子恥其言而過其行 (jūn zǐ chǐ qí yán ér guò qí xíng) means “The exemplary person is ashamed when words exceed deeds.” It comes from the Analects, Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 27.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 14.27: Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 27.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
We make plans and announce goals, but often fail to act on them.We proclaim grand New Year's resolutions and abandon them within days, or speak loudly in a meeting yet deliver no result.