The Analects – Chapter 74 (4.9). Beyond material pursuits

4.9

The Master said, “A scholar whose heart is set upon Dao, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.”

子曰：「士志於道，而恥惡衣惡食者，未足與議也。」

Notes

Confucius neither advocated ascetic living nor dismissed material needs; his critique targeted hypocrites and utilitarians. Many scholars of his time pursued wealth and status by currying favor with the powerful, their actions betraying their words — they preached benevolence while coveting luxury.

The core message conveyed through the passage from the Analects above is that authentic Dao seekers must actively transcend attachment to material comforts.

Confucius said elsewhere:

“How virtuous Hui is! With a bamboo basket of rice, a ladle of water, and living in a shabby lane, others would have found such hardship unbearable, but Hui never let it diminish his joy. How virtuous Hui is!”(Analects 6.11)

Taking Yan Hui as a paragon, this quote highlights the spiritual realm of “finding joy in upholding the Dao rather than in material comforts”, and stands as a classic portrayal of the philosophy of “being content with poverty and devoted to the Dao”.

Confucius also claimed:

“Eating coarse grains, drinking plain water, and resting my bent arm as a pillow – joy is still to be found in these. Wealth and rank obtained through unrighteous means are to me no more than floating clouds.”(Analects 7.16)

Using his own aspirations as an example, Confucius shows that a minimalist material life does not hinder the joy of upholding the Dao. He clearly rejects wealth and status gained by violating morality, and adheres to the bottom line that “the Dao is above material gain”.