The Master said, “If a person speaks without any sense of shame, it will be difficult for him to carry out what he says.”
Note
This statement from the Analects of Confucius reveals his deep insight into the relationship between speech and action: those who speak boldly without remorse or humility are often lacking in either the ability or the sincerity to act on their words.
“Not feeling ashamed” means speaking grandly without blushing – making sweeping claims with no intention or capacity to fulfill them, even when aware they are unrealistic.
Confucius holds that truly virtuous and capable people are cautious in speech because they understand that “words are easy, but action is hard.” They take responsibility for their utterances; if they cannot do something, they won’t say it lightly, and once spoken, they strive to fulfill it.
This aligns with the Confucian principle of being “quick in action but cautious in speech” (Analects 1.14), emphasizing that action outweighs rhetoric, and integrity lies in the unity of knowledge and practice. Those who boast recklessly not only fail to accomplish things but also erode trust in society.
In short, Confucius warns: the more casually one speaks, the less likely one is to act; the true noble person (junzi or Confucian gentleman) weighs words carefully and always fulfills what is spoken.
Further Reading
The Master said, “Be quick in action but cautious in speech; seek guidance from the Way to correct yourself – this may be called a love of learning.” Analects 1.14 (Xue Er)
Both stress restraint in speech and priority of action – true virtue lies in doing, not just saying.
The Master said, “In ancient times, people were sparing with words because they were ashamed if their actions did not match their speech.” Analects 4.22 (Li Ren)
Directly parallels chapter 14.20 – shame motivates alignment between word and deed; absence of shame leads to empty talk.
The Master said, “The noble person is ashamed when his words exceed his actions.” Analects 14.27 (Xian Wen)
Explicitly states that the junzi feels shame (chi) precisely when speech outpaces conduct – opposite of the “no shame” speaker in chapter 14.20 above.
子曰：「其言之不怍，則為之也難。」
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