Analects 5.20 · Gongye Chang
“Reflect three times before acting.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
三思而後行 (sān sī ér hòu xíng) means “Reflect three times before acting.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 5 (Gongye Chang), Chapter 20.
三思而後行
- Pinyin
- sān sī ér hòu xíng
- Translation
- Reflect three times before acting.
- Source
- Analects, Book 5 (Gongye Chang), Chapter 20
What does this passage mean?
This passage in the Gongye Chang chapter concerns Ji Wenzi, a minister of Lu. Ji Wenzi always thought three times before acting. When Confucius heard this, he said, 再思可矣—'Twice is enough.' He believed that too much deliberation could instead produce indecision. Later generations, however, often quoted the passage outside its original context as praise for the virtue of caution.
How can we apply it today?
Today the phrase 'think three times before acting' is taken to mean that we should deliberate carefully, yet Confucius's original point was, intriguingly, 'Do not overthink.' Modern people too often let excessive analysis become an inability to decide. As the phrase 'analysis paralysis' suggests, we can become so intent on finding the perfect answer that we never act at all. Once we have thought enough, the resolve to move into action matters too.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Do I tend to deliberate too long before making a decision?
- ·How do I distinguish prudence from indecision?
- ·Have I ever thought a matter through and then acted boldly?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 三 | sān | three | 3 | 一 (one) |
| 思 | sī | think | 9 | 心 (heart) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 後 | hòu | after | 9 | 彳 (step) |
| 行 | xíng | practice | 6 | 行 (walk) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Reflect three times before acting” mean?
三思而後行 (sān sī ér hòu xíng) means “Reflect three times before acting.” It comes from the Analects, Book 5 (Gongye Chang), Chapter 20.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 5.20: Book 5 (Gongye Chang), Chapter 20.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Today the phrase 'think three times before acting' is taken to mean that we should deliberate carefully, yet Confucius's original point was, intriguingly, 'Do not overthink.