The True Measure of a Life: Confucius on Why Virtue Outlasts Wealth

Confucius contrasted: “Duke Jing of Qi had thousands of horses, yet no virtue to be praised. Bo Yi and Shu Qi starved, yet are praised to this day.”

The Duke Jing of Qi had a thousand teams, each of four horses, but on the day of his death, the people did not praise him for a single virtue. Bo Yi and Shu Qi died of hunger at the foot of the Shou Yang mountain, and the people, down to the present time, praise them.

齐景公有马千驷,死之日,民无德而称焉。伯夷叔齐饿于首阳之下,民到于今称之。

Source: The Analects, Ji Shi XVI, Chapter 12

Author: Confucius

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top