Analects 12.7 · Yan Yuan
“Without the trust of the people, a state cannot stand.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
民無信不立 (mín wú xìn bù lì) means “Without the trust of the people, a state cannot stand.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 12 (Yan Yuan), Chapter 7.
民無信不立
- Pinyin
- mín wú xìn bù lì
- Translation
- Without the trust of the people, a state cannot stand.
- Source
- Analects, Book 12 (Yan Yuan), Chapter 7
What does this passage mean?
In Yan Yuan, Confucius speaks about the foundation of government. When Zigong asked about governing, he named food, military defense, and trust. If one had to be surrendered, he said, give up the military first and food next, but never trust. A state cannot stand without the confidence of its people. This radical statement places trust above both military and economic power.
How can we apply it today?
When trust collapses in an organization or a country, everything else follows. No amount of funding or sophisticated systems can preserve an institution whose members do not trust its leaders. Transparent corporate management, public confidence in government, and an individual’s fulfillment of promises are all practices of this teaching. Trust takes time to build and only a moment to destroy.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What is the level of trust in the organization to which you belong?
- ·Do the people around you regard you as trustworthy?
- ·What are you doing to build trust?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 民 | mín | the people | 5 | 氏 (clan) |
| 無 | wú | lack | 12 | 火 (fire) |
| 信 | xìn | trust | 9 | 人 (person) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 立 | lì | stand | 5 | 立 (stand) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Without the trust of the people, a state…” mean?
民無信不立 (mín wú xìn bù lì) means “Without the trust of the people, a state cannot stand.” It comes from the Analects, Book 12 (Yan Yuan), Chapter 7.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 12.7: Book 12 (Yan Yuan), Chapter 7.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
When trust collapses in an organization or a country, everything else follows.No amount of funding or sophisticated systems can preserve an institution whose members do not trust its leaders.