Analects 18.2 · Wei Zi
“If you serve others by the upright Way, where can you go without being repeatedly dismissed?”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
直道而事人 焉往而不三黜 (zhí dào ér shì rén, yān wǎng ér bù sān chù) means “If you serve others by the upright Way, where can you go without being repeatedly dismissed?” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 18 (Wei Zi), Chapter 2.
直道而事人 焉往而不三黜
- Pinyin
- zhí dào ér shì rén, yān wǎng ér bù sān chù
- Translation
- If you serve others by the upright Way, where can you go without being repeatedly dismissed?
- Source
- Analects, Book 18 (Wei Zi), Chapter 2
What does this passage mean?
This passage from the Wei Zi chapter evaluates Liuxia Hui, who refused to bend the upright Way even after being dismissed from office three times. 直道 means serving others according to an upright Way, while 三黜 means being expelled three times. Liuxia Hui's honesty prevented him from pleasing those in power and led to his dismissal, yet he would not compromise his principles. Paradoxically, the passage reveals the hardship endured by those who preserve principle.
How can we apply it today?
Living by principle does not always receive a reward. Reporting honestly at work can provoke hostility, and refusing an unjust instruction can bring disadvantage. Yet just as Confucius esteemed Liuxia Hui, hardship suffered in preserving principle has value in itself. Refusing to bend the Way even after three dismissals is genuine courage. It may bring loss in the short term, but over time it preserves one's self-respect.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Have I ever suffered a loss because I upheld a principle?
- ·Would it truly have been better to compromise that principle?
- ·What principle would I accept a disadvantage to preserve?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 直 | zhí | upright | 8 | 目 (eye) |
| 道 | dào | the Way; road | 13 | 辵 (walk) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 事 | shì | affair; serve | 8 | 亅 (hook) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 焉 | yān | grammatical particle | 11 | 火 (fire) |
| 往 | wǎng | go | 8 | 彳 (step) |
| 而 | ér | and; but | 6 | 而 (and) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 三 | sān | three | 3 | 一 (one) |
| 黜 | chù | drive out | 17 | 黑 (black) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “If you serve others by the upright Way…” mean?
直道而事人 焉往而不三黜 (zhí dào ér shì rén, yān wǎng ér bù sān chù) means “If you serve others by the upright Way, where can you go without being repeatedly dismissed?” It comes from the Analects, Book 18 (Wei Zi), Chapter 2.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 18.2: Book 18 (Wei Zi), Chapter 2.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Living by principle does not always receive a reward.Reporting honestly at work can provoke hostility, and refusing an unjust instruction can bring disadvantage.