Q0138
“Zengzi said: Each day I examine myself on three counts: In acting…” — Zengzi (Analects, Xue Er)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Analects, Xue Er. Theme: learning.
English
Zengzi said: Each day I examine myself on three counts: In acting on behalf of others, have I been loyal? In dealings with friends, have I been trustworthy? Have I practiced what was passed on to me?
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Analects, Xue Er and files it under Confucianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Zengzi
Zengzi (Zeng Shen, 505–435 BCE) was a prominent disciple of Confucius, traditionally associated with filial piety and the transmission of the Great Learning. Classical sources depict him as earnest, sometimes overly scrupulous, in ritual and self-examination.
How to read this passage
Education is not only information transfer; it is the shaping of attention and character. Confucian learning, Socratic midwifery, and Deweyan growth offer rival models. This passage enters that discussion through learning.
Concepts in this quote
- Learning
- Learning is philosophy’s practical twin: how judgment is formed through study, error, dialogue, and habit.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Zengzi. (n.d.). Zengzi said: Each day I examine myself on three counts: In acting on behalf of others, have I been loyal? In dealings with friends, have I been trustworthy? Have I practiced what was passed on to me? In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0138
MLA: Zengzi. “Zengzi said: Each day I examine myself on….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0138.
Chicago: Zengzi. “Zengzi said: Each day I examine myself on….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0138.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Zengzi said: Each day I examine myself on…”?
The passage is attributed to Zengzi, Analects, Xue Er. The archive attributes this English wording to Analects, Xue Er and files it under Confucianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Zengzi mean by learning?
Education is not only information transfer; it is the shaping of attention and character. Confucian learning, Socratic midwifery, and Deweyan growth offer rival models. This passage enters that discussion through learning.