Analects 19.8 · Zi Zhang
“When petty people make mistakes, they are certain to disguise them.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
小人之過也必文 (xiǎo rén zhī guò yě bì wén) means “When petty people make mistakes, they are certain to disguise them.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 8.
小人之過也必文
- Pinyin
- xiǎo rén zhī guò yě bì wén
- Translation
- When petty people make mistakes, they are certain to disguise them.
- Source
- Analects, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 8
What does this passage mean?
In this passage from the Zi Zhang chapter, 小人 refers to a person lacking moral maturity, while 文 means decorating or making excuses. When petty people make a mistake, they inevitably dress it up with every manner of excuse and explanation. This is the opposite of Confucius's injunction, 'When you make a mistake, do not be afraid to change.' An exemplary person acknowledges and corrects an error; a petty person conceals and embellishes it.
How can we apply it today?
Immediately seeking an excuse after a mistake is a deeply human reaction, but also one of the greatest obstacles to growth. 'The circumstances made me do it,' 'Everyone else did it too,' 'I did not have enough time.' Such excuses soothe us briefly without solving the fundamental problem. Frankly admitting an error and saying, 'This is what I will do next time,' earns far more respect.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What is my first response when I make a mistake?
- ·How do I handle the urge to make excuses?
- ·Have I ever found that a relationship improved after I honestly admitted an error?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 小 | xiǎo | small | 3 | 小 (small) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 過 | guò | pass; fault | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
| 也 | yě | grammatical particle | 3 | 乙 (second) |
| 必 | bì | certainly | 5 | 心 (heart) |
| 文 | wén | writing; adorn | 4 | 文 (script) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “When petty people make mistakes, they are…” mean?
小人之過也必文 (xiǎo rén zhī guò yě bì wén) means “When petty people make mistakes, they are certain to disguise them.” It comes from the Analects, Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 8.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 19.8: Book 19 (Zi Zhang), Chapter 8.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Immediately seeking an excuse after a mistake is a deeply human reaction, but also one of the greatest obstacles to growth.