Confucius on Embracing Progress Over Past Mistakes
7·29 When I was in Huxiang (1), it was difficult to talk to the people there, and the children were confused when they saw me. The Master said, “Is it not better to advance (2) than to retreat (3)? People improve themselves in order to make progress, but we should not praise them for their improvement, but rather for their past behavior.
[Notes]
(1) Huxiang: a place name, the exact location of which is unknown.
(2) Yu: to praise.
(3) Jin and tui: one interpretation is progress and regression; another is to seek advice and withdraw from future actions.
(4) Jiezi: to purify oneself, to strive for self-cultivation, to become a virtuous person.
(5) Not to protect its past: to protect, one says to guarantee, one says to keep. Past, one says the past, one says the future.
Translation
(Confucius thought) it was difficult to talk to the people in Huxiang, but a boy from Huxiang was received by Confucius, and the students were all puzzled. Confucius said, “I am sure he is making progress, not sure he is regressing. Why do you have to go too far? People correct their mistakes in order to make progress, and we should affirm their correction of mistakes, not hold on to their past.”
[Commentary]
Confucius often promoted his ideas to people everywhere. But in the place of Huxiang, it didn’t work. So he said, “Rather than progress, not to retreat.” “People clean themselves to progress, rather than clean, not to protect their past.” This reflects Confucius’ attitude of “teaching people tirelessly” from one side, and he believes that we should not hold on to past mistakes.
In the context of a conversation, Confucius encountered a young man from a place known as Huxiang. Despite Huxiang’s reputation for being a challenging environment for philosophical discourse, this young man had the honor of being received by Confucius. His students, however, were puzzled by this interaction. They questioned why Confucius would engage with someone from such a place, and why he seemed to overlook the individual’s past shortcomings.
Confucius addressed their confusion with a simple yet powerful lesson: “I acknowledge his progress, not his regress. Why dwell excessively on the past? When someone has improved themselves by correcting their mistakes, it is important to recognize their advancement rather than fixate on their previous errors.”
This statement reflects a fundamental aspect of Confucian thought. It underscores the importance of recognizing and supporting personal growth and reform. Confucius believed that while it is crucial to acknowledge and praise someone’s efforts to better themselves, it is equally important not to be tethered to their past failures.
Confucius’s message here is clear: personal advancement should be celebrated, and one’s past should not overshadow their current progress. This perspective encourages a forward-looking approach, where the focus remains on the positive changes individuals make rather than on their historical missteps.
His philosophy suggests that to truly support someone’s development, one must appreciate their journey of improvement rather than cling to their previous errors. This approach not only fosters a more supportive and constructive environment but also aligns with Confucius’s broader teachings about self-cultivation and continuous learning.