Analects 17.3 · Yang Huo
“Only the wisest and the most foolish never change.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
唯上知與下愚不移 (wéi shàng zhì yǔ xià yú bù yí) means “Only the wisest and the most foolish never change.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 17 (Yang Huo), Chapter 3.
唯上知與下愚不移
- Pinyin
- wéi shàng zhì yǔ xià yú bù yí
- Translation
- Only the wisest and the most foolish never change.
- Source
- Analects, Book 17 (Yang Huo), Chapter 3
What does this passage mean?
This passage comes from the third chapter of Yang Huo. In the preceding chapter, Confucius says that people are close by nature and grow apart through habit. This line states the exception: only the wisest and the most foolish are not changed by habit. The wisest are those so wise that no environment can shake them; the most foolish are those who refuse to learn, so that no teaching can enter. Zhu Xi explained that the most foolish do not change not because they lack ability but because they abandon and give up on themselves. Most people fall between the two, and the real point of the passage is that they can change through habit and learning.
How can we apply it today?
This passage must not be read as a way of ranking people. The point lies on the other side: apart from a tiny number of exceptions, nearly everyone can change. Those who do not change are not those who lack ability but those who refuse to change. The moment someone closes off learning with the words ‘that’s just how I am,’ they place themselves among the most foolish. Conversely, those who keep trying to learn keep changing regardless of age. The way to read this passage is to ask where your habits are taking you, and whether you have refused to change.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Have you ever closed off learning by saying ‘that’s just how I am’?
- ·Which habits have changed you, and which have hardened you?
- ·Is there an area where you are refusing to change?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 唯 | wéi | only | 11 | 口 (mouth) |
| 上 | shàng | above | 3 | 一 (one) |
| 知 | zhì | wise | 8 | 矢 (arrow) |
| 與 | yǔ | and | 14 | 臼 (mortar) |
| 下 | xià | below | 3 | 一 (one) |
| 愚 | yú | foolish | 13 | 心 (heart) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 移 | yí | change; move | 11 | 禾 (grain) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Only the wisest and the most foolish never…” mean?
唯上知與下愚不移 (wéi shàng zhì yǔ xià yú bù yí) means “Only the wisest and the most foolish never change.” It comes from the Analects, Book 17 (Yang Huo), Chapter 3.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 17.3: Book 17 (Yang Huo), Chapter 3.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
This passage must not be read as a way of ranking people.The point lies on the other side: apart from a tiny number of exceptions, nearly everyone can change.