Analects 15.30 · Wei Ling Gong
“To make a mistake and not correct it—this is truly a mistake.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
有過而不改 是謂過矣 (yǒu guò ér bù gǎi, shì wèi guò yǐ) means “To make a mistake and not correct it—this is truly a mistake.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 30.
有過而不改 是謂過矣
- Pinyin
- yǒu guò ér bù gǎi, shì wèi guò yǐ
- Translation
- To make a mistake and not correct it—this is truly a mistake.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 30
What does this passage mean?
This passage from the Wei Ling Gong chapter clearly shows Confucius's view of error. Anyone can make a mistake; the real mistake is recognizing it yet failing to correct it. Confucius also says, 'When you make a mistake, do not be afraid to change' (過則勿憚改). The teaching does not demand perfection but emphasizes the courage to acknowledge and repair what is wrong. The essence of error lies not in the mistake itself but in our attitude toward it.
How can we apply it today?
Some cultures treat admitting a mistake as a sign of weakness. Yet repeating the same mistake is the true failure. An organization that analyzes and improves after a failed project grows; one that conceals failure repeats the same errors. The same is true of individuals. Someone who learns from yesterday's mistake develops, while someone who makes excuses and looks away remains in place.
Questions to reflect on
- ·What mistake do I continue to repeat without correcting?
- ·Why does acknowledging an error feel difficult?
- ·What have I learned from a recent mistake?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 有 | yǒu | exist | 6 | 月 (moon) |
| 過 | guò | pass; fault | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 改 | gǎi | correct | 7 | 攴 (tap) |
| 是 | shì | this | 9 | 日 (sun) |
| 謂 | wèi | say; call | 16 | 言 (speech) |
| 過 | guò | pass; fault | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
| 矣 | yǐ | grammatical particle | 7 | 矢 (arrow) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “To make a mistake and not correct it—this…” mean?
有過而不改 是謂過矣 (yǒu guò ér bù gǎi, shì wèi guò yǐ) means “To make a mistake and not correct it—this is truly a mistake.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 30.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.30: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 30.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Some cultures treat admitting a mistake as a sign of weakness.Yet repeating the same mistake is the true failure.