Analects 7.2 · Shu Er
“Quietly retain what you learn, study without weariness, and teach others without tiring.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
默而識之 學而不厭 誨人不倦 (mò ér zhì zhī, xué ér bù yàn, huì rén bù juàn) means “Quietly retain what you learn, study without weariness, and teach others without tiring.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 2.
默而識之 學而不厭 誨人不倦
- Pinyin
- mò ér zhì zhī, xué ér bù yàn, huì rén bù juàn
- Translation
- Quietly retain what you learn, study without weariness, and teach others without tiring.
- Source
- Analects, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 2
What does this passage mean?
This passage from Shu Er summarizes Confucius’s scholarly attitude in three practices: quietly retaining what he learned, never tiring of learning, and never tiring of teaching others. He modestly asked what claim he had to any of these virtues, but in reality they guided his entire life.
How can we apply it today?
Quiet observation and memory, tireless learning, and tireless sharing are equally important for today’s knowledge worker. Together they form a cycle of continuous study, embodied knowledge, and transmission. Teaching without weariness is what we might now call a culture of knowledge sharing. Sharing a lesson deepens our own understanding, and teaching another person helps us grow.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Has your passion for learning remained alive?
- ·Do you enjoy teaching or sharing knowledge?
- ·Do you have a habit of quietly observing and remembering?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 默 | mò | silent | 16 | 黑 (black) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 識 | zhì | remember | 19 | 言 (speech) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 學 | xué | learn | 16 | 子 (child) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 厭 | yàn | dislike | 14 | 厂 (cliff) |
| 誨 | huì | teach | 14 | 言 (speech) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 倦 | juàn | weary; tired | 10 | 人 (person) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Quietly retain what you learn, study…” mean?
默而識之 學而不厭 誨人不倦 (mò ér zhì zhī, xué ér bù yàn, huì rén bù juàn) means “Quietly retain what you learn, study without weariness, and teach others without tiring.” It comes from the Analects, Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 2.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 7.2: Book 7 (Shu Er), Chapter 2.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Quiet observation and memory, tireless learning, and tireless sharing are equally important for today’s knowledge worker.