Analects 15.21 · Wei Ling Gong
“The exemplary person looks within; the petty person looks to others.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
君子求諸己 小人求諸人 (jūn zǐ qiú zhū jǐ, xiǎo rén qiú zhū rén) means “The exemplary person looks within; the petty person looks to others.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 21.
君子求諸己 小人求諸人
- Pinyin
- jūn zǐ qiú zhū jǐ, xiǎo rén qiú zhū rén
- Translation
- The exemplary person looks within; the petty person looks to others.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 21
What does this passage mean?
Looking to oneself means seeking the cause and remedy of a problem within; looking to others means locating both outside. The exemplary person does the first, the petty person the second. This is not only a moral teaching but a fundamental method of growth. When we look within, change is possible; when we look only to others, nothing remains within our power to change.
How can we apply it today?
“It is not my fault; it is the environment, my supervisor, or bad luck.” Growth stops when this becomes our final answer. Learning begins when we instead ask what we could have done differently in the situation. This is not self-condemnation; it is attention to what we can control. We cannot change another person, but we can change ourselves. That is the only—and the most effective—beginning of change.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Where do you look for causes when a problem arises?
- ·Do you understand the difference between accepting responsibility and condemning yourself?
- ·When have you found an answer by looking within?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | jūn | ruler | 7 | 口 (mouth) |
| 子 | zǐ | son | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 求 | qiú | seek | 7 | 水 (water) |
| 諸 | zhū | every | 16 | 言 (speech) |
| 己 | jǐ | oneself | 3 | 己 (self) |
| 小 | xiǎo | small | 3 | 小 (small) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 求 | qiú | seek | 7 | 水 (water) |
| 諸 | zhū | every | 16 | 言 (speech) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The exemplary person looks within; the…” mean?
君子求諸己 小人求諸人 (jūn zǐ qiú zhū jǐ, xiǎo rén qiú zhū rén) means “The exemplary person looks within; the petty person looks to others.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 21.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.21: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 21.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
“It is not my fault; it is the environment, my supervisor, or bad luck.” Growth stops when this becomes our final answer.