The Analects – Chapter 43 (3.3). The soul beneath the ritual

3.3

Confucius said, “A man who is not benevolent, what can he have to do with ritual? A man who is not benevolent, what can he have to do with music?

子曰：「人而不仁，如禮何？人而不仁，如樂何？」

Notes

This passage from the Analects tells us that the value of external forms is determined by internal virtue. Humanity (benevolence) — the core Confucian virtue encompassing love, goodness, and empathy — gives meaning to ritual and music. Without humanity, ritual and music lose their essence.

Benevolence and righteousness form the core content; ritual gives them structured expression; and music/joy is their spontaneous emotional fulfillment.

“The essence of yue (music/joy) is delighting in these two – and when this delight arises, it cannot be stopped.
When it cannot be stopped, one spontaneously dances for joy, leaping and waving hands without thinking.”(Mencius 7.27)

Confucius’ call to action: Restore the unity of ritual/music and moral virtue, infusing ceremonies with goodwill and norms with human warmth.