Analects 13.23 · Zi Lu
“The exemplary person seeks harmony without conformity; the petty person seeks conformity without harmony.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
君子和而不同 小人同而不和 (jūn zǐ hé ér bù tóng, xiǎo rén tóng ér bù hé) means “The exemplary person seeks harmony without conformity; the petty person seeks conformity without harmony.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 13 (Zi Lu), Chapter 23.
君子和而不同 小人同而不和
- Pinyin
- jūn zǐ hé ér bù tóng, xiǎo rén tóng ér bù hé
- Translation
- The exemplary person seeks harmony without conformity; the petty person seeks conformity without harmony.
- Source
- Analects, Book 13 (Zi Lu), Chapter 23
What does this passage mean?
In Zi Lu, harmony means a fitting relationship among differences, while sameness means conformity. The exemplary person respects different opinions while creating harmony and does not blindly agree. Petty people may voice the same opinion outwardly yet fail to achieve genuine harmony. Harmony without sameness is unity within diversity; sameness without harmony is conflict beneath uniformity.
How can we apply it today?
This principle is especially important in organizations that emphasize teamwork. Raising an opposing view in a meeting is not an obstruction but a contribution to a better decision. A group in which everyone only says yes is dangerous. Genuine teamwork respects different perspectives while moving toward one goal. Diversity is a source of creativity, not merely a cause of conflict.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Are you open to opinions different from your own?
- ·Have you agreed merely because the mood of the group carried you along?
- ·Can you distinguish harmony from conformity?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | jūn | ruler | 7 | 口 (mouth) |
| 子 | zǐ | son | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 和 | hé | harmonize | 8 | 口 (mouth) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 同 | tóng | same; like | 6 | 口 (mouth) |
| 小 | xiǎo | small | 3 | 小 (small) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 同 | tóng | same; like | 6 | 口 (mouth) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 和 | hé | harmonize | 8 | 口 (mouth) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The exemplary person seeks harmony without…” mean?
君子和而不同 小人同而不和 (jūn zǐ hé ér bù tóng, xiǎo rén tóng ér bù hé) means “The exemplary person seeks harmony without conformity; the petty person seeks conformity without harmony.” It comes from the Analects, Book 13 (Zi Lu), Chapter 23.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 13.23: Book 13 (Zi Lu), Chapter 23.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
This principle is especially important in organizations that emphasize teamwork.Raising an opposing view in a meeting is not an obstruction but a contribution to a better decision.