Analects 4.23 · Li Ren
“Those who err through self-restraint are rare indeed.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
以約失之者 鮮矣 (yǐ yuē shī zhī zhě, xiǎn yǐ) means “Those who err through self-restraint are rare indeed.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 23.
以約失之者 鮮矣
- Pinyin
- yǐ yuē shī zhī zhě, xiǎn yǐ
- Translation
- Those who err through self-restraint are rare indeed.
- Source
- Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 23
What does this passage mean?
This is a concise teaching of Confucius in the Li Ren chapter. 約 means frugality or restraint, 失 means to make an error, and 鮮 means rarely. Confucius regarded a frugal way of life as the surest means of preventing wrongdoing. History offers countless examples of luxury and self-indulgence bringing ruin to individuals and nations, and his teaching was grounded in this empirical observation.
How can we apply it today?
Frugality can sound like an outdated virtue in a consumer society. Yet household debt caused by overspending, regret after impulse purchases, and the compulsive comparisons created by luxury goods are major sources of modern distress. The popularity of minimalism reflects a longing for the wisdom of 'owning less and living more richly.' Frugality does not simply mean refusing to spend money; it is a way of life focused on what is truly necessary. Because frugal people are freer from needless desires, they are less likely to fall into error.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Are my spending habits frugal or extravagant?
- ·Have I ever regretted overspending or waste?
- ·How might I practice frugality while also improving my quality of life?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 約 | yuē | frugal | 9 | 糸 (silk) |
| 失 | shī | lose | 5 | 大 (big) |
| 之 | zhī | go; possessive particle | 4 | 丿 (slash) |
| 者 | zhě | one; thing | 8 | 老 (old) |
| 鮮 | xiǎn | rare | 17 | 魚 (fish) |
| 矣 | yǐ | grammatical particle | 7 | 矢 (arrow) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “Those who err through self-restraint are…” mean?
以約失之者 鮮矣 (yǐ yuē shī zhī zhě, xiǎn yǐ) means “Those who err through self-restraint are rare indeed.” It comes from the Analects, Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 23.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 4.23: Book 4 (Li Ren), Chapter 23.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Frugality can sound like an outdated virtue in a consumer society.