Analects 19.25 · Zi Zhang
“By a single statement an exemplary person may appear wise, and by a single statement ignorant; speech cannot be treated without care.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
君子一言以爲知 一言以爲不知 言不可不愼也 (jūn zǐ yī yán yǐ wéi zhì, yī yán yǐ wéi bù zhì, yán bù kě bù shèn yě) means “By a single statement an exemplary person may appear wise, and by a single statement ignorant; speech cannot be treated without care.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 25.
君子一言以爲知 一言以爲不知 言不可不愼也
- Pinyin
- jūn zǐ yī yán yǐ wéi zhì, yī yán yǐ wéi bù zhì, yán bù kě bù shèn yě
- Translation
- By a single statement an exemplary person may appear wise, and by a single statement ignorant; speech cannot be treated without care.
- Source
- Analects, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 25
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Zi Zhang chapter, Zigong emphasizes the weight of speech. 一言 means a single utterance, 知 wisdom, and 不知 foolishness. An exemplary person may be judged wise by one statement and foolish by another, so speech must never be careless. Zigong says this while discussing Confucius's greatness and warning those who disparage his teacher.
How can we apply it today?
We live in an age when one sentence can change a life. A remark in an interview, a comment in a meeting, or one line posted on social media may determine someone's entire image. A single inappropriate statement can destroy a career, while one incisive observation can build trust. The habit of thinking once more before speaking is an essential capability in the digital age.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Have I ever regretted a single remark?
- ·Do I think sufficiently before speaking?
- ·Which of my statements has had the greatest influence?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | jūn | ruler | 7 | 口 (mouth) |
| 子 | zǐ | son | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 一 | yī | one | 1 | 一 (one) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 爲 | wéi | become | 12 | 爪 (claw) |
| 知 | zhì | wise; wisdom | 8 | 矢 (arrow) |
| 一 | yī | one | 1 | 一 (one) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 爲 | wéi | become | 12 | 爪 (claw) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 知 | zhì | wise; wisdom | 8 | 矢 (arrow) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 可 | kě | right | 5 | 口 (mouth) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 愼 | shèn | be cautious | 14 | 心 (heart) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “By a single statement an exemplary person…” mean?
君子一言以爲知 一言以爲不知 言不可不愼也 (jūn zǐ yī yán yǐ wéi zhì, yī yán yǐ wéi bù zhì, yán bù kě bù shèn yě) means “By a single statement an exemplary person may appear wise, and by a single statement ignorant; speech cannot be treated without care.” It comes from the Analects, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 25.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 19.25: Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 25.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
We live in an age when one sentence can change a life.A remark in an interview, a comment in a meeting, or one line posted on social media may determine someone's entire image.