Analects 15.9 · Wei Ling Gong
“The Master said, “People of resolve and humaneness do not seek life at the cost of humaneness; they may sacrifice their lives to fulfill it.””
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
子曰 志士仁人 無求生以害仁 有殺身以成仁 (zǐ yuē, zhì shì rén rén, wú qiú shēng yǐ hài rén, yǒu shā shēn yǐ chéng rén) means “The Master said, “People of resolve and humaneness do not seek life at the cost of humaneness; they may sacrifice their lives to fulfill it.”” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 9.
子曰 志士仁人 無求生以害仁 有殺身以成仁
- Pinyin
- zǐ yuē, zhì shì rén rén, wú qiú shēng yǐ hài rén, yǒu shā shēn yǐ chéng rén
- Translation
- The Master said, “People of resolve and humaneness do not seek life at the cost of humaneness; they may sacrifice their lives to fulfill it.”
- Source
- Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 9
What does this passage mean?
This passage from Wei Ling Gong is among the most elevated declarations in the Analects. People of resolve and people of humaneness will sacrifice themselves rather than damage humaneness. The statement insists that some values are more precious than life. It does not glorify reckless death; it emphasizes the absolute importance of humaneness as the highest value.
How can we apply it today?
Few of us will be asked to give our lives, but the spirit applies to ordinary choices: accepting a loss for what is right, surrendering profit for principle, or giving up comfort to protect someone vulnerable. Each is a modern practice of sacrificing the self to fulfill humaneness. Which is more meaningful: a comfortable life purchased by abandoning values, or a principled life that accepts discomfort?
Questions to reflect on
- ·What could you give up to protect the values that matter most to you?
- ·What do you choose when comfort and principle conflict?
- ·What form does self-sacrifice for humaneness take in your life?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 子 | zǐ | teacher | 3 | 子 (child) |
| 曰 | yuē | speak | 4 | 曰 (say) |
| 志 | zhì | intention | 7 | 心 (heart) |
| 士 | shì | scholar | 3 | 士 (scholar) |
| 仁 | rén | benevolent | 4 | 人 (person) |
| 人 | rén | person | 2 | 人 (person) |
| 無 | wú | lack | 12 | 火 (fire) |
| 求 | qiú | seek | 7 | 水 (water) |
| 生 | shēng | dwell | 5 | 生 (life) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 害 | hài | harm | 10 | 宀 (roof) |
| 仁 | rén | benevolent | 4 | 人 (person) |
| 有 | yǒu | exist | 6 | 月 (moon) |
| 殺 | shā | kill | 11 | 殳 (weapon) |
| 身 | shēn | body | 7 | 身 (body) |
| 以 | yǐ | by means of | 5 | 人 (person) |
| 成 | chéng | accomplish | 7 | 戈 (halberd) |
| 仁 | rén | benevolent | 4 | 人 (person) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “The Master said, “People of resolve and…” mean?
子曰 志士仁人 無求生以害仁 有殺身以成仁 (zǐ yuē, zhì shì rén rén, wú qiú shēng yǐ hài rén, yǒu shā shēn yǐ chéng rén) means “The Master said, “People of resolve and humaneness do not seek life at the cost of humaneness; they may sacrifice their lives to fulfill it.”” It comes from the Analects, Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 9.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 15.9: Book 15 (Wei Ling Gong), Chapter 9.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Few of us will be asked to give our lives, but the spirit applies to ordinary choices: accepting a loss for what is right, surrendering profit for principle, or giving up comfort to protect someone vulnerable.