Analects 15.37 · Wei Ling Gong
“The exemplary person is steadfast in what is right, but not bound by petty promises.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
君子貞而不諒 (jūn zǐ zhēn ér bù liàng) means “The exemplary person is steadfast in what is right, but not bound by petty promises.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 37.
君子貞而不諒
- Pinyin
- jūn zǐ zhēn ér bù liàng
- Translation
- The exemplary person is steadfast in what is right, but not bound by petty promises.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 37
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Wei Ling Gong chapter, 貞 means being rightly faithful to great moral principles, while 諒 refers to minor promises and small obligations of trust. An exemplary person is devoted to the greater principle without becoming so bound by a minor promise that a larger duty is harmed. This is not mere flexibility but a matter of priorities. If a person urgently needs help, for example, we should assist even if doing so breaks an appointment with a friend.
How can we apply it today?
Principles have a hierarchy. If we try to keep every commitment in exactly the same way, we may lose sight of more important values. Punctuality for a meeting matters, but walking past a team member seeking help with a serious problem because 'I have a meeting' means being trapped by a minor obligation. What matters is the judgment to understand the relative weight of circumstances and choose the greater value. Flexibility is not the absence of principle; it follows a higher principle.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Have I ever lost a greater value because I was bound to a minor rule?
- ·Are my priorities clear?
- ·Where do I believe the boundary lies between exercising flexibility and violating principle?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 君 | jūn | ruler | 7 | 口 (mouth) |
| 子 | zǐ | son | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 貞 | zhēn | upright | 9 | 貝 (shell) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 諒 | liàng | trust; understand | 15 | 言 (speech) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The exemplary person is steadfast in what…” mean?
君子貞而不諒 (jūn zǐ zhēn ér bù liàng) means “The exemplary person is steadfast in what is right, but not bound by petty promises.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 37.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.37: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 37.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Principles have a hierarchy.If we try to keep every commitment in exactly the same way, we may lose sight of more important values.