Analects 12.4 · Yan Yuan
“If inward examination reveals nothing to be ashamed of, what is there to worry about or fear?”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
內省不疚 夫何憂何懼 (nèi xǐng bù jiù, fú hé yōu hé jù) means “If inward examination reveals nothing to be ashamed of, what is there to worry about or fear?” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 12 (Yan Yuan), Chapter 4.
內省不疚 夫何憂何懼
- Pinyin
- nèi xǐng bù jiù, fú hé yōu hé jù
- Translation
- If inward examination reveals nothing to be ashamed of, what is there to worry about or fear?
- Source
- Analects, Book 12 (Yan Yuan), Chapter 4
What does this passage mean?
In the Yan Yuan chapter, Confucius gives this answer when Sima Niu asks about the exemplary person. 內省 means examining one's inner self deeply, while 疚 means something that troubles the heart—a pang of conscience. Confucius locates the mark of the exemplary person not in outward achievement but in inward integrity. Sima Niu lived in constant fear because his brother Huan Tui had launched a rebellion; Confucius teaches him that the root of anxiety and fear lies not outside but within.
How can we apply it today?
Modern people live amid countless anxieties: evaluations at work, conflict in relationships, and uncertainty about the future. Confucius tells us, however, to seek the root of these worries not outside but within ourselves. If self-examination leaves us with a clear conscience, what is there to fear? If we can go to bed without shame over the day just lived, we have the most comfortable bed of all. Living without a burden on the conscience is the most fundamental answer to anxiety.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What causes me the greatest anxiety these days?
- ·Could it be connected to something troubling my conscience?
- ·How often do I end the day with a peaceful heart?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 內 | nèi | inside | 4 | 入 (enter) |
| 省 | xǐng | examine | 9 | 目 (eye) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 疚 | jiù | ailment; concern | 8 | 疒 (sickness) |
| 夫 | fú | husband; grammatical particle | 4 | 大 (big) |
| 何 | hé | how | 7 | 人 (person) |
| 憂 | yōu | worry | 15 | 心 (heart) |
| 何 | hé | how | 7 | 人 (person) |
| 懼 | jù | fear | 22 | 心 (heart) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “If inward examination reveals nothing to be…” mean?
內省不疚 夫何憂何懼 (nèi xǐng bù jiù, fú hé yōu hé jù) means “If inward examination reveals nothing to be ashamed of, what is there to worry about or fear?” It comes from the Analects, Book 12 (Yan Yuan), Chapter 4.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 12.4: Book 12 (Yan Yuan), Chapter 4.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Modern people live amid countless anxieties: evaluations at work, conflict in relationships, and uncertainty about the future.