The Passage

Hover over (or tap on mobile) Chinese characters for pinyin and definitions

Informal interpretation: From Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: "Use your words, use your words / Use your words and say how you feel"

This is a statement about how we should use words. Words should bridge the gap between minds. If the idea is successfully communicated, if the message gets through, that is enough—because that's what words are for.

Philosophical Discussion

Speech Act Theory

Philosophers J.L. Austin and John Searle developed the concept of "speech acts" in the 1950s-60s. According to their analysis, any utterance involves three acts:

1. Locutionary Act: The literal sounds and words (e.g., "Can you pass the salt?")
2. Illocutionary Act: The intent behind the words (requesting the salt)
3. Perlocutionary Act: The effect on the listener (they pass the salt, or get annoyed, or respond with a question)

Confucius believes communication is most perfect when all three align: the words chosen match the intent, and produce the desired response. In the salt example, if you say "Can you pass the salt," intending to get the salt, and the listener passes it, then "these words conveyed their point."

When Words Don't Convey Their Point

Consider someone at a party saying, "I'm really loving my new Bentley Flying Spur." The locutionary act is a statement about enjoying a car. But the illocutionary act—the real intent—is likely to impress, to hint at wealth and luxury. The words themselves don't match the intent. This is bragging disguised as conversation.

However, at a gathering of luxury car enthusiasts, the same words might genuinely mean "I want to discuss this car's features." Context matters. Locution and illocution can align when circumstances change.

Confucius and Appropriate Boasting

In passage 7.23, Confucius seems boastful: "I've been endowed with virtue by Heaven itself! What could 桓魋 (Huán Tuí) possibly do to me!"

But context reveals appropriateness. 桓魋 was hunting Confucius, possibly to kill him. Under threat, his words made perfect sense:

• Locution: "Heaven supports me, I do what is right, that remains true even if someone harms me"
• Illocution: Reassure his disciples they have nothing to fear despite danger
• Perlocution: His followers didn't flee; Confucius wasn't captured or killed

Perfect alignment.

質 (zhì) vs 文 (wén): Raw Material vs Polish

One of Confucius's key concepts: 質 (zhì) means raw material, 文 (wén) means polish or refinement. You've heard "you can't polish a turd"—that's the idea. Some people are pure gold but appear rough. Others are turds hidden beneath candy coating.

According to Confucius, we're born with 質 (raw material). Education adds 文 (polish), refining that material into its best form. But balance is crucial. Analects 6.18 warns:

• Too much 質: You'll seem rustic
• Too much 文: You'll seem pedantic

Confucius favored 質 over excessive 文. He warned that highly educated people lacking strong foundations were dangerous. His world overflowed with deceptive rulers and faux-wise sophists who used clever words to manipulate.

With too much 文, you might use words that don't convey their point—the Bentley bragger, or worse, cult leaders who manipulate thousands. With too much 質, you might not get ahead socially, but at least your words will match your intentions.

Language Notes

辭 (cí) - Words/Statement

辭 appears in modern Chinese but disconnected from this meaning (e.g., 辭職 cí zhí means "resign from a job"). In ancient usage, 辭 referred to formal statements or commentaries.

The 易經 (Yì Jīng, Book of Changes) contains 爻辭 (yáo cí)—textual commentaries on hexagram images. So 辭 isn't just casual words; it's formal statement, comment, or testimony.

達 (dá) - To Reach/Convey

One of the most important (and commonly misunderstood) characters in the Analects. Often translated as "accomplished" or "talented," but Professor Peimin Ni renders it as "unblocked"—which better captures its essence.

Someone who is 達 knows how to get things done. They don't let obstacles stop them; they're good at solving problems and bridging gaps. The same quality applies to words that 達—they bridge the gap, make connections, reach their goal.

Modern Chinese examples:

• 達到目的地 (dádào mùdìdì) - reach a destination
• 達人 (dárén) - master, expert
• 美食達人 (měishí dárén) - foodie, gourmet

而已矣 (ér yǐ yǐ) - And That's All

These are 虛詞 (xūcí, "empty words")—a terrible name because they're anything but empty. They express mood, inflection, emphasis without concrete meaning.

而已 (ér yǐ) means "that's all" in both modern and classical Chinese. The final 矣 adds emphasis, like saying "full stop" or "period." Together: "and that's all, period."

Context in the Analects

This passage reminds us to examine whether our words genuinely convey their point. Are we communicating clearly, or are we manipulating, impressing, or deceiving? The ancient question remains relevant: Do your words bridge minds, or do they obscure truth?