Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practises it will have neighbors.
[德不孤、必有鄰。]
Confucius (c. 551- c. 479 BC) Chinese philosopher, sage, politician [孔夫子 (Kǒng Fūzǐ, K'ung Fu-tzu, K'ung Fu Tse), 孔子 (Kǒngzǐ, Chungni), 孔丘 (Kǒng Qiū, K'ung Ch'iu)]
The Analects [論語, 论语, Lúnyǔ], Book 4, verse 25 (4.25) (6th C. BC – AD 3rd C.) [tr. Legge (1861)]
(Source)
Differing commentary on the text can be found; it may mean that virtue attracts others to its side, or it may be a comment on virtue needing to be practiced in a social setting.
(Source (Chinese)). Alternate translations:Virtue dwells not alone: she must have neighbors.
[tr. Jennings (1895)]Moral worth is never left alone; society is sure to grow round him.
[tr. Ku Hung-Ming (1898)]Virtue never dwells alone; it always has neighbors.
[tr. Soothill (1910)]Virtue attracts friends.
[tr. Soothill (1910), Alternate]Candidness is not fatherless, it is bound to have neighbors.
[tr. Pound (1933)]Moral force (tê) never dwells in solitude; it will always bring neighbors.
[tr. Waley (1938)]High moral conduct does not remain alone; it is sure to attract neighbors.
[tr. Ware (1950)]Virtue never stands alone. It is bound to have neighbors.
[tr. Lau (1979)]Virtue is not solitary. It is bound to have neighbors.
[tr. Dawson (1993)]Virtue is not solitary; it always has neighbors.
[tr. Leys (1997)]The virtuous are not solitary. They surely have neighbors.
[tr. Huang (1997)]A virtuous person is not alone, certainly has his companions.
[tr. Cai/Yu (1998)]Excellent persons (de) do not dwell alone; they are sure to have neighbors.
[tr. Ames/Rosemont (1998)]Virtue is not solitary; it must have neighbors.
[tr. Brooks/Brooks (1998)]Integrity's never alone. It always has neighbors.
[tr. Hinton (1998)]Virtue is never solitary; it always has neighbors.
[tr. Slingerland (2003)]Virtue is not alone. It invariably has neighbors.
[tr. Watson (2007)]Virtue does not stand alone. It is bound to have neighbors.
[tr. Annping Chin (2014)]A virtuous person is never lonely because there is always a comrade nearby.
[tr. Li (2020)]