The Original Quote:
子路问君子，子曰：“修己以敬。”曰：“如斯而已乎？”曰：“修己以安人。”曰：“如斯而已乎？”曰：“修己以安百姓。修己以安百姓，尧、舜其犹病诸！”
Zǐ Lù wèn jūnzǐ, zǐ yuē: “Xiū jǐ yǐ jìng.” Yuē: “Rú sī éryǐ hū?” Yuē: “Xiū jǐ yǐ ān rén.” Yuē: “Rú sī éryǐ hū?” Yuē: “Xiū jǐ yǐ ān bǎixìng. Xiū jǐ yǐ ān bǎixìng, Yáo, Shùn qí yóu bìng zhū!”
English Translation:
Zilu inquired about the junzi (exemplary person). The Master said: "Cultivate oneself with reverence (jing)." Zilu asked: "Is that all?" The Master replied: "Cultivate oneself to bring peace to others." Zilu pressed further: "Is that all?" The Master concluded: "Cultivate oneself to bring peace to the hundred clans (the common people). To cultivate oneself and bring peace to all—even Yao and Shun found it challenging to fully achieve!"
Key Concepts Explained:
- Junzi (君子): The Confucian ideal of a morally cultivated person, often translated as "exemplary person" or "gentleman," whose conduct serves as a model for society.
- Jing (敬): Reverence or seriousness; an inner attitude of respect and attentiveness that forms the foundation of self-cultivation and ethical action.
- An ren (安人): "Bringing peace to others," reflecting the Confucian principle that personal virtue extends outward to harmonize interpersonal relationships.
- An baixing (安百姓): "Bringing peace to the common people," the ultimate goal of governance and moral leadership, emphasizing the ruler's duty to ensure social stability and welfare.
- Yao and Shun (尧舜): Legendary sage-kings in Chinese antiquity, revered as paragons of virtuous rule, whose mention here underscores the immense challenge of universal peace.
Cultural Context:
This passage from the Analects (Lunyu) captures Confucius’s progressive vision of moral development. Starting with personal reverence (jing), the junzi’s cultivation expands to benefit others and ultimately all people—a core tenet of Confucian political philosophy that links individual ethics to social harmony. The reference to Yao and Shun, mythical sage-kings, highlights the aspirational yet humbling nature of this ideal: even the most virtuous rulers found it difficult to achieve universal peace. For English-speaking audiences, this text illustrates how Confucianism integrates self-discipline with communal responsibility, offering a timeless framework for leadership rooted in moral integrity rather than power alone.