He Ji (a disciple of Mencius) said, “I, He Ji, am now being spoken of very badly (my reputation is quite poor).”
Mencius replied, “It is of no harm. Scholars inherently detest these gossips and busybodies. The Book of Songs says, ‘My heart is full of sorrow and anxiety, for I am resented by a crowd of petty men.’ This describes Confucius. The Book of Songs also says, ‘Although he did not eliminate their resentment, he did not diminish his good reputation.’ This describes King Wen of Zhou.”
Note
This passage from the Jin Xin II chapter of the Mencius is a classic dialogue in which Mencius teaches his disciples how to face rumors and external criticism. Drawing on historical context and Confucian classics, we can understand its underlying thought through the following dimensions:
- The Open-Minded Attitude of Calmly Facing Criticism: “It Is of No Harm”
When the disciple felt distressed by negative external evaluations (“spoken of very badly”), Mencius first offered the reassuring pill of “it is of no harm.” This reflects the transcendent attitude of Confucianism when facing external praise or slander. Mencius believed that a person’s true value lies in their inner moral cultivation and practical actions, not in worldly gossip. As long as one’s own conduct is upright, external slander has no power to harm. - Insight into the Nature of Rumors and the Stance of a “Scholar”: “Scholars Inherently Detest These Gossips”
Mencius astutely pointed out that those who are gossips and stir up trouble (“busybodies”) are inherently detested by scholars with integrity. This statement is not only a comfort to the disciple but also a moral judgment against the rumor-mongers. It establishes a value orientation: being criticized by petty men is not a disgrace; rather, it proves from a side perspective that one has not compromised with worldly corruption and has held fast to the bottom line of a “scholar.” - Spiritual Solace by Taking Sages as Role Models: “This Describes Confucius” and “This Describes King Wen of Zhou”
By quoting verses from the Book of Songs, Mencius compared the disciple’s situation with the experiences of two supreme sages: Confucius and King Wen of Zhou. Confucius was also resented by petty men and filled with anxiety, and King Wen of Zhou also failed to eliminate the resentment of petty men. Mencius used this to tell his disciple: even sages cannot avoid the criticism of petty men, let alone ordinary people like us? The key, however, is that no matter how petty men resent them, the sages’ good reputation (“wen” is interchangeable with “reputation”) has never been diminished because of it. This guidance, using sages as a frame of reference, greatly elevated the disciple’s spiritual realm, teaching people to maintain inner firmness and composure in adversity.
貉稽曰：“稽大不理于口。”
孟子曰：“无伤也。士憎兹多口。诗云：‘忧心悄悄，愠于群小。’孔子也。‘肆不殄厥愠，亦不陨厥问。’文王也。”
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