Q0454
“Zengzi said: A scholar-officer must be broad and resolute, for his burden…” — Confucius (Analects 8.7)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Analects 8.7. Theme: responsibility.
English
Zengzi said: A scholar-officer must be broad and resolute, for his burden is heavy and his Way is long.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Analects 8.7 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 Confucius
Confucius (Kong Qiu, 551–479 BCE) taught in the late Spring and Autumn period amid the Zhou order’s political fragmentation. Born in the state of Lu, he briefly held local office and then spent years seeking rulers who would adopt ritual-based, virtue-centered government.
How to read this passage
Philosophical debates cover free will, blame, collective responsibility, and duties to distant others. Technology and AI revive the question of who is accountable when systems act. This passage enters that discussion through responsibility.
Concepts in this quote
- Responsibility
- Responsibility asks what we answer for—our choices, omissions, institutions, and the futures we help create.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Confucius. (n.d.). Zengzi said: A scholar-officer must be broad and resolute, for his burden is heavy and his Way is long. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0454
MLA: Confucius. “Zengzi said: A scholar-officer must be broad and….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0454.
Chicago: Confucius. “Zengzi said: A scholar-officer must be broad and….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0454.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Zengzi said: A scholar-officer must be broad and…”?
The passage is attributed to Confucius, Analects 8.7. The archive attributes this English wording to Analects 8.7 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 Confucius mean by responsibility?
Philosophical debates cover free will, blame, collective responsibility, and duties to distant others. Technology and AI revive the question of who is accountable when systems act. This passage enters that discussion through responsibility.