独善其身
- Literal
- alone, making good one's own self
- Figurative
- To stay out of things and look after only one's own integrity or interests; today it is very often used in the negative, when no one can escape a shared problem.
Where does 独善其身 come from?
It comes from the 《孟子》, from the chapter "Jin xin." Mencius says that the ancients, when they achieved their aims, extended their benefits to the people, and when they did not, cultivated themselves; and he sums it up: "In adversity, perfect yourself alone; in success, do good to the whole world." It is not a story but a maxim on how a virtuous man should act out of office and in it. The sense has shifted over time: today it usually describes someone who keeps out of things so as not to get hurt, sometimes reproachfully, and very often in the negative, to say that no one is spared.
Source (出处): 《孟子·尽心上》
How is 独善其身 used? Two examples
- 经济不好的时候，没有哪个行业能独善其身。
When the economy is doing badly, no industry is left untouched.
- 部门里闹得不可开交，他却只想独善其身，谁也不帮。
The whole department is at each other's throats, and all he wants is to keep out of it and help nobody.
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