Skip to content

Order by December 10 for delivery before Christmas. Shop gifts

見義不爲,無勇也

To see what's right and not do it is a lack of courage.

Confucius, Analects 2.24

TO SEEWHAT'S RIGHTAND NOT DOIT IS A LACKOF COURAGE.CONFUCIUS · ANALECTS 2.24

What it means

Most of the time we know the right move; what fails is nerve. Confucius calls that gap by its name. When you catch yourself looking away from something you should handle, that is the moment courage is asked for.

The source

"To see what's right and not do it is a lack of courage." Confucius said it in Analects 2.24. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.

"見義不爲,無勇也。"

Original Chinese, Analects 2.24. Text read at zh.wikisource.org.

Who said it

Confucius (551-479 BC). Teacher from the state of Lu whose conversations, collected by his students as the Analects, shaped two thousand years of Chinese ethics. He taught that character is built through learning, ritual and honest self-examination.

Questions

What does "To see what's right and not do it is a lack of courage." mean?
Most of the time we know the right move; what fails is nerve. Confucius calls that gap by its name. When you catch yourself looking away from something you should handle, that is the moment courage is asked for.
Who said "To see what's right and not do it is a lack of courage."?
Confucius (551-479 BC). Source: Analects 2.24.
What is the original Chinese?
見義不爲,無勇也。. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.
Is "To see what's right and not do it is a lack of courage." on a shirt?
Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"To see what's right and not do it is a lack of courage." (Confucius, Analects 2.24, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/to-see-whats-right-and-not-do-it

Filed under Quotes about discipline and grit.

More from Confucius