# Xian Wen: evaluating conduct and restraint: summary

Collects discussions of people, governance, words and conduct, gain and right action, courage and restraint.

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects/chapter-14-xian-wen-evaluating-conduct-and-restraint

## Source and summary

[The Analects · Xian Wen: evaluating conduct and restraint](https://zh.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E8%AB%96%E8%AA%9E/%E5%85%A8%E8%A6%BD&oldid=1082965#%E6%86%B2%E5%95%8F%E7%AC%AC%E5%8D%81%E5%9B%9B)

> 憲問「恥」。子曰：「邦有道，穀；邦無道，穀，恥也。」

Collects discussions of people, governance, words and conduct, gain and right action, courage and restraint.

## Editorial interpretation

The example below adapts this chapter’s questions to modern work. Evaluate it against the actual purpose and conditions; ancient politics, warfare or ethics do not establish business results.

## Business application

Evaluate outcomes alongside methods, burdens on others and fulfillment of commitments rather than using numbers alone.

1. Choose one relevant case and record its objective, available resources, verified facts and unknowns.
2. Compare options using this chapter’s perspective; choose a limited trial, owner, deadline and a measure to assess the result.

Deliverable: A comparison using xian wen: evaluating conduct and restraint, with conditions for acting or declining.

## Limits

The summary selects main points rather than translating every sentence. The example is not a demonstrated business method; check it against stakeholders’ conditions and actual evidence.

## Validation question

How does this chapter’s perspective change the selected option or priority, and what further evidence could change the decision?

[The Analects: a guide to learning and reflection](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/analects)

[This material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/analects/chapter-14-xian-wen-evaluating-conduct-and-restraint.en.md)

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0