The Master said, “People of the south have a saying: ‘A person without constancy cannot even become a shaman or physician.’ How excellent this saying is!”
He then quoted the Book of Changes: “If one does not maintain his virtue consistently, he will surely bring shame upon himself.”
The Master added, “Such a person need not bother with divination at all.”
Note
Through a folk saying and a classical quotation, Confucius underscores the foundational role of constancy—steadfast moral character and perseverance—in both professional ethics and personal cultivation.
In ancient China, shamans and physicians served as mediators between humans and spirits and healers of body and mind. Their work demanded long-term study, disciplined practice, and public trust. Without constancy, one could neither master the craft nor earn credibility. By citing this southern proverb, Confucius implies: if even the most basic vocational roles require enduring virtue, how much more so for a noble person (junzi, Confucian gentleman) cultivating self and governing others?
The line “If one does not maintain his virtue consistently, he will surely bring shame upon himself” comes from the Yijing (Book of Changes or Yi Ching), Hexagram Heng (Duration). It warns that inconsistent moral conduct inevitably leads to disgrace—a realistic insight into human frailty: many begin well, but few persevere.
The final remark—”Such a person need not bother with divination”—is especially profound. Divination was traditionally used to resolve doubts and seek auspicious outcomes. But Confucius argues that if one lacks moral constancy, his fate is already sealed; no oracle can change that. This reflects the Confucian view that virtue, not supernatural signs, determines one’s destiny.
Overall, Confucius uses the concept of Heng (Constancy or Duration) to unify professional integrity, ethical perseverance, and a rational attitude toward fate: true certainty arises not from external omens, but from inner moral stability.
Further Reading
Zengzi said, “A shi (scholar-official) must be broad-minded and resolute, for his burden is heavy and the road long.” Analects 8.7 (Tai Bo)
Both stress perseverance (resolve) as essential for moral life—complementing the idea of constancy.
The Master said, “It is like piling up earth to make a mountain: if I stop short of one basketful, the stopping is my own doing. It is like leveling ground: even if I have poured only one basketful, the progress is my own doing.” Analects 9.19 (Zi Han)
Emphasizes that success or failure depends on sustained effort—directly related to the necessity of constancy.
子曰：「南人有言曰：『人而無恆，不可以作巫醫。』善夫！」「不恆其德，或承之羞。」子曰：「不占而已矣。」
Leave a Reply