Analects 15.8 · Wei Ling Gong
“The wise neither lose people nor waste words.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
知者不失人 亦不失言 (zhì zhě bù shī rén, yì bù shī yán) means “The wise neither lose people nor waste words.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 8.
知者不失人 亦不失言
- Pinyin
- zhì zhě bù shī rén, yì bù shī yán
- Translation
- The wise neither lose people nor waste words.
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 8
What does this passage mean?
This passage from Wei Ling Gong concludes the preceding statement. The wise lose neither people nor words because they judge timing and audience accurately. The matter is not simply verbal technique but insight into situations and character. For Confucius, wisdom was not theoretical information; it was the practical capacity to judge and act appropriately in actual life.
How can we apply it today?
Communication is a core modern skill, but genuine communication ability is less about speaking fluently than reading the situation accurately. We must know when to speak or remain silent, whom to address, and how to deliver the message. Such judgment preserves both people and words. Wisdom in deciding matters more than technique in speaking.
Questions to reflect on
- ·Can you read a situation and communicate appropriately?
- ·When have your words preserved both a person and the message?
- ·What are you doing to develop wisdom in communication?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 知 | zhì | wise; wisdom | 8 | 矢 (arrow) |
| 者 | zhě | person | 8 | 老 (old) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 失 | shī | lose | 5 | 大 (big) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 亦 | yì | also | 6 | 亠 (lid) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 失 | shī | lose | 5 | 大 (big) |
| 言 | yán | speech | 7 | 言 (speech) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The wise neither lose people nor waste…” mean?
知者不失人 亦不失言 (zhì zhě bù shī rén, yì bù shī yán) means “The wise neither lose people nor waste words.” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 8.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.8: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 8.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Communication is a core modern skill, but genuine communication ability is less about speaking fluently than reading the situation accurately.