Analects 4.1 · Li Ren
“It is beautiful to dwell among the humane. If one does not choose a place where humaneness prevails, how can one be called wise?”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
里仁爲美 擇不處仁 焉得知 (lǐ rén wéi měi, zé bù chǔ rén, yān dé zhì) means “It is beautiful to dwell among the humane. If one does not choose a place where humaneness prevails, how can one be called wise?” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 1.
里仁爲美 擇不處仁 焉得知
- Pinyin
- lǐ rén wéi měi, zé bù chǔ rén, yān dé zhì
- Translation
- It is beautiful to dwell among the humane. If one does not choose a place where humaneness prevails, how can one be called wise?
- Source
- Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 1
What does this passage mean?
This is the opening passage of the Li Ren chapter. 里仁 means a neighborhood where humaneness is present—a place where humane people live together. 處仁 means dwelling in a humane place, or choosing a good environment. Confucius emphasizes the power of surroundings and says that choosing to live where humaneness flourishes is fundamental to wisdom. This passage is the intellectual source of the famous story of Mencius's mother moving three times to find the right environment for her son's education.
How can we apply it today?
The quality of our lives changes greatly depending on the neighborhood we inhabit, the company we work for, and the people with whom we associate. Science, too, has confirmed the saying that environments shape people. Spend time with people who have good habits, and you naturally begin to form better habits yourself. When choosing a job, do not look only at salary; examine its culture and its people. Wisdom begins with choosing an environment in which you can grow.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What kind of environment do I live in, and how does it affect me?
- ·Have I ever deliberately chosen surroundings that would help me grow?
- ·Does the community to which I belong make me a better person?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 里 | lǐ | village | 7 | 里 (village) |
| 仁 | rén | benevolent | 4 | 人 (person) |
| 爲 | wéi | become | 12 | 爪 (claw) |
| 美 | měi | beautiful | 9 | 羊 (sheep) |
| 擇 | zé | select | 16 | 手 (hand) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 處 | chǔ | dwell | 11 | 虍 (tiger) |
| 仁 | rén | benevolent | 4 | 人 (person) |
| 焉 | yān | how | 11 | 火 (fire) |
| 得 | dé | obtain | 11 | 彳 (step) |
| 知 | zhì | wise | 8 | 矢 (arrow) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “It is beautiful to dwell among the humane…” mean?
里仁爲美 擇不處仁 焉得知 (lǐ rén wéi měi, zé bù chǔ rén, yān dé zhì) means “It is beautiful to dwell among the humane. If one does not choose a place where humaneness prevails, how can one be called wise?” It comes from the Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 1.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 4.1: Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 1.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
The quality of our lives changes greatly depending on the neighborhood we inhabit, the company we work for, and the people with whom we associate.