6.22
Fan Chi asked about wisdom. The Master said, “He who devotes himself to securing for his subjects what it is right they should have, who by respect for the Spirits keeps them at a distance, may be termed wise.”
He asked about benevolence. The Master said, “Benevolence cannot be obtained till what is difficult has been duly done. He who has done this may be called benevolent.”
樊遲問知。子曰：「務民之義，敬鬼神而遠之，可謂知矣。」問仁。曰：「仁者先難而後獲，可謂仁矣。」
Notes
This dialogue from the Analects addresses Fan Chi’s questions on wisdom and benevolence.
For Confucius:
- Wisdom lies not in obsessing over rituals/divination, but in prioritizing the people’s fundamental needs (livelihood, social stability, justice, etc.).
- Benevolence manifests in voluntarily shouldering society’s most arduous duties without calculating personal rewards.
“I do not speak of strange phenomena, brute force, disorder, or spiritual beings.”(Analects 7.21)
He took the initiative to avoid topics such as the supernatural, unsubstantiated claims, violence, chaos, and deities. Upholding rationality and pragmatism, he refused to spread superstition or encourage excessive focus on mysterious forces.
“You are not yet able to serve men – how can you serve ghosts and spirits? You do not yet understand life – how can you understand death?”(Analects 11.12)
With the logic that “serving men takes precedence over serving ghosts and spirits” and “understanding life takes precedence over understanding death”, he focused his thoughts firmly on worldly affairs – morality, ethics, and the livelihood of the people. He set aside transcendent issues such as ghosts, spirits, and death, avoiding unrealistic speculation that would detach one from reality.
“To prioritize one’s duties before seeking gains – does this not elevate one’s moral character?”(Analects 12.21)
Focusing first on fulfilling one’s responsibilities and making earnest efforts, and only then considering rewards, this is the core path to cultivating moral virtue. It is entirely consistent with the logic of “taking on hardships first and reaping rewards later” – prioritizing dedication over personal gain.
With “elevating moral character” as the anchor for the moral value of “prioritizing duties”, it clarifies that “seeking gains later” is a natural outcome rather than an end in itself, embodying the pragmatic attitude of a benevolent person who does not rush for quick results.
The gentleman takes moral righteousness as the guiding principle for his conduct, while the petty man is driven solely by personal interests. This places righteousness – duty and morality – above profit – gains and rewards.
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