The Analects – Chapter 90 (4.25). The magnetic virtue

4.25

The Master said, “Virtue never dwells in solitude; it will always bring neighbours.”

子曰：「德不孤，必有鄰。」

Notes

In ancient society, moral character was seen as the core bond of human relations:

• The virtueless faced exclusion due to selfishness and hypocrisy;
• The virtuous became community anchors through sincerity and integrity.

Confucianism envisioned virtue as the nexus for social harmony. Its universal nature connected people across divides — as Mencius stated:

“Those upholding Dao gain abundant support; those abandoning it stand alone.”(Mencius 4.1)

It deepens the political dimension of “a virtuous person will never stand alone”, expanding the individual-level principle of “virtue brings like-minded companions” to the statecraft-level tenet of “upholding virtue garners universal support”. It holds that the rallying power of the Dao is essentially identical to the charismatic appeal of virtue – both are capable of rallying collective strength.

Confucius also said elsewhere:

“Governing with virtue is like the North Star: it abides in its place, and all the other stars revolve around it.”(The Analects 2.1)

It extends the notion of “a virtuous person will never stand alone” to the realm of governance, asserting that governing with virtue can unite the hearts of the people and attract allegiance from all quarters. The metaphor of “all stars encircling the North Star” illustrates the charismatic appeal of virtue, which is inherently consistent with the essence of “a virtuous person will surely have like-minded companions” – that is, virtue gathers people around it.

Modern society, despite material abundance, suffers spiritual emptiness. Individuals of high moral caliber naturally attract kindred spirits through their inner strength. Only virtue delivers true belonging.