Analects 4.11 · Li Ren
“The exemplary person cherishes virtue; the petty person cherishes comfort.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
君子懷德 小人懷土 (jūn zǐ huái dé, xiǎo rén huái tǔ) means “The exemplary person cherishes virtue; the petty person cherishes comfort.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 11.
君子懷德 小人懷土
- Pinyin
- jūn zǐ huái dé, xiǎo rén huái tǔ
- Translation
- The exemplary person cherishes virtue; the petty person cherishes comfort.
- Source
- Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 11
What does this passage mean?
In Li Ren, to cherish means to hold something continually in the heart. The exemplary person thinks of virtue, while the petty person thinks of the soil—that is, a comfortable place and secure surroundings. The next sentence adds that the exemplary person thinks of moral standards while the petty person thinks of benefits. What a person habitually holds in mind distinguishes exemplary from petty character.
How can we apply it today?
What we think about most often helps define who we become. Over time, the lives of people who think about growth and contribution diverge from those who think only about security and benefits. One person chooses a job for salary alone, another for the possibility of growth; one calculates only what a relationship provides, another considers what can be given. The direction of the mind becomes the direction of a life.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What occupies your thoughts most often?
- ·Which do you pursue more, comfort or growth?
- ·Do you sense that the direction of your thoughts is creating your future?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | jūn | ruler | 7 | 口 (mouth) |
| 子 | zǐ | son | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 懷 | huái | cherish | 19 | 心 (heart) |
| 德 | dé | virtue | 15 | 彳 (step) |
| 小 | xiǎo | small | 3 | 小 (small) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 懷 | huái | long for | 19 | 心 (heart) |
| 土 | tǔ | land; contentment | 3 | 土 (earth) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The exemplary person cherishes virtue; the…” mean?
君子懷德 小人懷土 (jūn zǐ huái dé, xiǎo rén huái tǔ) means “The exemplary person cherishes virtue; the petty person cherishes comfort.” It comes from the Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 11.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 4.11: Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 11.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
What we think about most often helps define who we become.Over time, the lives of people who think about growth and contribution diverge from those who think only about security and benefits.