On Learning
德之不修,学之不讲,闻义不能徙,不善不能改,是吾忧也。
"Failing to cultivate virtue, failing to discuss learning, failing to move toward what is right, and failing to correct what is not good: these are my worries."
Chinese Original
德之不修,学之不讲,闻义不能徙,不善不能改,是吾忧也。
English Rendering
Failing to cultivate virtue, failing to discuss learning, failing to move toward what is right, and failing to correct what is not good: these are my worries.
Chinese Translation
孔子说:"不培养品德,不讲习学问,合乎义礼的事不能亲身去做,有缺点不能及时改正,这些都是我忧虑的事。"
Modern Meaning
In "德之不修,学之不讲,闻义不能徙,不善不能改,是吾忧也," Confucius focuses on failing to cultivate virtue, failing to discuss learning, failing to move toward what is right, and... The exact principle is that learning becomes real only when repeated, corrected, and carried into conduct. The tension is not generic practice; it is the specific problem that knowledge stays shallow when it is consumed once and never reviewed, practiced, or taught, which still appears in after finishing one lesson, book chapter, work memo, or conversation.
How to Apply Today
Use this teaching today in after finishing one lesson, book chapter, work memo, or conversation. Because this line says "Failing to cultivate virtue, failing to discuss learning, failing to move toward what is right, and...," return to one useful idea and use it in a small task before the day ends, so the lesson becomes visible in one behavior.
Reflection Question
For "德之不修,学之不讲,闻义不能徙,不善不能改,是吾忧也" (row 27, 为学篇 / On Learning), Which piece of knowledge am I treating as learned even though I have not practiced it?
Action Step
Review one lesson from today and use it in one email, decision, or conversation, specifically in response to this demand: "Failing to cultivate virtue, failing to discuss learning, failing to move toward what is right, and..."
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