The Original Quote:
子游问孝，子曰：“今之孝者，是谓能养。至于犬马，皆能有养。不敬，何以别乎？”
Zǐ Yóu wèn xiào, zǐ yuē: “Jīn zhī xiào zhě, shì wèi néng yǎng. Zhì yú quǎn mǎ, jiē néng yǒu yǎng. Bù jìng, hé yǐ bié hū?”
English Translation:
Ziyou inquired concerning filial piety. The Master said: “Those of today who are deemed filial are merely those who are able to provide nourishment. Yet even dogs and horses are likewise nourished. Without reverence, how is one to distinguish the human from the beast?”
Key Concepts Explained:
- 孝 (Xiào): Filial piety—a foundational virtue in Confucianism, denoting not just duty but heartfelt devotion to parents, encompassing both material care and spiritual reverence.
- 敬 (Jìng): Reverence or respect—the inner attitude of veneration that distinguishes genuine filial piety from mere obligation, rooted in moral sincerity.
- 养 (Yǎng): Nourishment or sustenance—the physical act of providing for parents, which Confucius argues is insufficient without the emotional and ethical dimension of jìng.
Cultural Context:
This passage from The Analects (Book 2, Chapter 7) reflects Confucius’s critique of contemporary practices in the Spring and Autumn period, where filial piety was often reduced to material support. By contrasting human care with the feeding of animals, Confucius elevates filial piety from a transactional duty to a moral and emotional bond. This teaching has profoundly shaped East Asian family ethics, emphasizing that true filial devotion requires a union of action and heartfelt reverence—a principle that remains central to Confucian thought on social harmony and human dignity.