The Master said, “The noble person seeks the Way, not sustenance. In farming, hunger may still occur; in studying, official emolument often follows. Thus, the noble person worries about the Way, not about poverty.”
Note
This passage from the Analects of Confucius – Lunyu encapsulates the Confucian value of prioritizing moral principle over material gain and the ideal character of the noble person (junzi).
“Seeks the Way, not sustenance” does not deny basic survival needs, but stresses that one’s highest aim in life should be the pursuit of truth, virtue, and the moral order (Dao), rather than devoting all energy to securing food and shelter. Of course, the noble person must eat – but will not compromise the Way for livelihood.
Confucius notes that “in farming, hunger may still occur,” meaning even the most practical labor cannot guarantee freedom from want; yet “in studying, official emolument often follows,” suggesting that those genuinely devoted to learning and virtue – though not seeking rank or salary – often naturally receive social recognition and reward. This is not an endorsement of “study to become an official,” but a reflection of the intrinsic connection between moral cultivation and social contribution: those who embody the Way will eventually be valued and employed.
“Worries about the Way, not about poverty” further elevates the noble person’s spiritual horizon: true concern lies in whether the Way is being realized, not whether one’s purse is empty. This attitude represents both transcendence over material desire and commitment to one’s moral mission.
This teaching does not advocate idleness or detachment from reality, but promotes guiding practical action by the Way and subordinating profit to righteousness: before acting, ask whether it aligns with moral principle – not whether it benefits oneself. In today’s utilitarian society, this idea serves as a vital warning: do not mistake means for ends, nor sacrifice long-term values for short-term gains.
It also resonates with Confucius’ praise of Yan Hui’s “joy in the Way despite poverty” (Analects 6.11), revealing a life philosophy where inner fulfillment outweighs external abundance.
In short, Confucius teaches: The noble person takes the Way as his aspiration and virtue as his vocation; when one practices the Way, emolument follows naturally; when one upholds righteousness, poverty is no cause for worry.
Further Reading
The Master said, “How virtuous was Hui! With a single bamboo bowl of rice, a gourd dipper of water, living in a shabby alley – others could not bear such hardship, yet Hui never lost his joy. How virtuous was Hui!” Analects 6.11 (Yong Ye)
Exemplifies “worrying not about poverty” through Yan Hui’s joyful devotion to the Way amid extreme material lack.
子曰：「君子謀道不謀食。耕也，餒在其中矣；學也，祿在其中矣。君子憂道不憂貧。」
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