The Analects – Chapter 10.2

When at court, Confucius spoke with lower-ranking officials in a relaxed, forthright, and affable manner; with higher-ranking officials, he was respectful, upright, and measured in speech; and when the ruler was present, he appeared both reverently cautious and gracefully composed.

Note

This passage from the Analects vividly illustrates Confucius’s nuanced conduct across hierarchical settings, embodying the Confucian spirit of ritual propriety – adjusting one’s words and demeanor according to status and context to achieve “harmony through respect, not flattery.” With junior officials, he was approachable and sincere, showing trust without condescension. With senior ministers, he maintained respectful decorum while upholding moral integrity – honoring their position without compromising his own principles. In the ruler’s presence, he combined reverent caution with graceful composure, expressing loyalty and awe while preserving the dignity and inner calm of a noble person (junzi, Confucian gentleman). This contextual adaptability is not hypocrisy or opportunism, but a refined expression of the principle that “the function of ritual is harmony” (Analects 1.12). It reflects deep ethical awareness: true cultivation lies in navigating complex social roles with both outward propriety and inward authenticity, thereby sustaining order without sacrificing integrity.

Further Reading

Among his townspeople, Confucius was modest and gentle, seeming almost speechless; but in ancestral temples or court, he spoke clearly – yet always with caution. Analects 10.1 (Xiang Dang)

Both show Confucius adapting speech and demeanor to context – informal humility vs. formal clarity – demonstrating situational propriety grounded in ritual propriety.

Youzi said, “In practicing ritual propriety, harmony is most valuable. This was the beauty of the ancient kings’ Way.” Analects 1.12 (Xue Er)

Directly supports the idea that li aims at harmonious relationships; Confucius’s behavior in chapter 10.2 exemplifies this ideal in hierarchical settings.

朝，與下大夫言，侃侃如也；與上大夫言，誾誾如也。君在，踧踖如也。與與如也。