The Analects – Chapter 75 (4.10). Beyond rigidity

4.10

The Master said, “A gentleman in his dealings with the world has neither enmities nor affections; but wherever he sees righteousness he ranges himself beside it.”

子曰：「君子之於天下也，無適也，無莫也，義之與比。」

Notes

The statement from the Analects elucidates the noble person’s principle of “substance over dogma” in conduct — rejecting rigid formalism while emphasizing righteousness as the ultimate standard, both flexible in application and absolute in essence.

At its core, it reveals:

The highest wisdom in human affairs lies in ‘steadfast principles with adaptable methods’:

• Rejecting inflexible doctrines and unprincipled compromise,
• Grounding all actions in righteousness (moral appropriateness and contextual suitability).

Mencius also said:

“A man of great virtue is not bound to keep his word, nor is he obligated to see his deeds through to the end – he only abides by what is righteous.” (Mencius 8.11)

This quote directly inherits the Confucian philosophy of “not being rigidly for or against anything, but aligning oneself with righteousness”. It places the priority of righteousness above that of keeping one’s word and seeing things through to completion, emphasizing that morality is the ultimate arbiter of one’s specific conduct.