Analects 14.23 · Xian Wen
“The exemplary person reaches upward; the petty person reaches downward.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
君子上達 小人下達 (jūn zǐ shàng dá, xiǎo rén xià dá) means “The exemplary person reaches upward; the petty person reaches downward.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 23.
君子上達 小人下達
- Pinyin
- jūn zǐ shàng dá, xiǎo rén xià dá
- Translation
- The exemplary person reaches upward; the petty person reaches downward.
- Source
- Analects, Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 23
What does this passage mean?
This short passage comes from the twenty-third chapter of Xian Wen: the exemplary person reaches upward, the petty person reaches downward. Zhu Xi explained that the exemplary person follows the principle of Heaven and so advances daily toward what is high and bright, while the petty person follows desire and so drifts daily toward what is low and dark. It connects with the line in Li Ren that the exemplary person understands rightness while the petty person understands profit. Upward and downward here are not ranks but directions. Starting from the same point, people arrive at entirely different places depending on what they move toward. Small daily choices accumulate into a rising life or a sinking one.
How can we apply it today?
The word ‘reach’ is intriguing. The petty person also reaches mastery, only downward: growing skilled at shortcuts, tricks, using people, and evading responsibility. The person who reaches upward grows steadily more skilled at principle, learning, and responsibility. Both improve with time; the question is direction. Look at what you are becoming accustomed to and you will see your direction. If you are getting better at cutting corners, you are heading down; if keeping principles is becoming natural, you are heading up.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What are you becoming more skilled at these days?
- ·Is it taking you upward or downward?
- ·What choice could you make today to change direction?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | jūn | ruler | 7 | 口 (mouth) |
| 子 | zǐ | son | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 上 | shàng | above | 3 | 一 (one) |
| 達 | dá | penetrate | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
| 小 | xiǎo | small | 3 | 小 (small) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 下 | xià | below | 3 | 一 (one) |
| 達 | dá | penetrate | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The exemplary person reaches upward; the…” mean?
君子上達 小人下達 (jūn zǐ shàng dá, xiǎo rén xià dá) means “The exemplary person reaches upward; the petty person reaches downward.” It comes from the Analects, Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 23.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 14.23: Book 14 (Xian Wen), Chapter 23.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
The word ‘reach’ is intriguing.The petty person also reaches mastery, only downward: growing skilled at shortcuts, tricks, using people, and evading responsibility.