The Master said, “There may be noble persons (junzi) who occasionally fall short of benevolence; but there has never been a petty person who truly attained benevolence.”
Note
This statement from the Analects of Confucius draws a fundamental distinction between the junzi (Confucian gentleman) and the petty person regarding their moral potential.
- “There may be noble persons who occasionally fall short of benevolence”: The junzi takes humaneness/benevolence as his life goal. Though he is committed to self-cultivation and lofty ideals, he may still lapse due to human limitations or momentary negligence. This acknowledges that ren is an exceptionally high moral standard – even the gentleman must strive for it throughout life and may not always embody it perfectly.
- “There has never been a petty person who truly attained benevolence”: The petty man is centered on self-interest, lacking moral aspiration or the will to goodness. His actions are driven by desire, calculation, or utility – making genuine benevolence, whose essence is “loving others” and “restraining oneself to return to ritual propriety,” fundamentally inaccessible to him.
This remark does not diminish the junzi’s virtue but underscores the difficulty and loftiness of benevolence. More importantly, it establishes a clear ethical boundary: the defining difference between noble person and petty person lies not in perfection, but in whether one possesses the inner orientation toward benevolence. This reflects the Confucian emphasis on moral intention and direction – human worth is measured not by flawlessness, but by the persistent pursuit of the highest good.
Further Reading
The Master said, “The noble person understands righteousness; the petty person understands profit.” Analects 4.16 (Li Ren)
Both contrast the noble person’s moral orientation with the petty person’s self-interest – showing why only the former can approach benevolence.
Yan Hui asked about benevolence. The Master said, “To restrain oneself and return to ritual propriety is benevolence.” Analects 12.1 (Yan Yuan)
Shows ren demands active self-discipline and alignment with moral order – qualities incompatible with the petty person’s impulsive, interest-driven nature.
子曰：「君子而不仁者有矣夫，未有小人而仁者也。」
Leave a Reply