Zixia said, “A man who values people for their virtue and talent, and honoring noble qualities above external appearances, who into serving father and mother knows how to put his whole strength, who in the service of his prince will lay down his life, who in intercourse with friends is true to his word — others may say of him that he still lacks education, but I for my part should certainly call him an educated man.”
子夏曰：「賢賢易色，事父母能竭其力，事君能致其身，與朋友交言而有信。雖曰未學，吾必謂之學矣。」
Notes
This passage from the Analects, spoken by Zixia (Bu Shang), a disciple of Confucius in his later years, reveals the essence of Confucian “learning” — that true learning lies not in empty discourse but in the practice of virtue.
In personal conduct:
- Honor the virtuous and esteem moral excellence above superficial appearances (e.g., status, wealth, attire, or looks);
- Serve one’s parents with utmost devotion;
- Fulfill duties to one’s ruler (or public service) with unwavering dedication;
- Interact with friends through sincere and trustworthy speech.
If one embodies these principles, regardless of whether they are learned or illiterate, they are already a person of true cultivation.
Zixia’s words return to education’s foundational purpose: its ultimate goal is to nurture “virtuous practitioners”, not “knowledgeable rhetoricians”. These terms distill Confucianism’s action-centered philosophy, where moral integrity transcends scholarly credentials.
This shares the same essence as Zixia’s assertion that “even if someone says he has not engaged in formal learning, I would certainly say he has already learned” – it regards filial piety, fraternal respect, loyalty, trustworthiness, benevolence and care for others as the foundation of one’s conduct, with “studying the classics” taking a secondary position. It emphasizes that ethical practice precedes the study of literary works, highlighting the value hierarchy that “moral action is the essence of true learning”.
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