The Analects – Chapter 180 (7.32). The harmonious learner

7.32

When in the Master’s presence anyone sang a song that he liked, he did not join in at once, but asked for it to be repeated and then joined in.

子與人歌而善，必使反之，而後和之。

Notes

When Confucius sang with others and heard someone sing well, he would invariably ask them to repeat the performance, and then join in harmonizing with them.

This passage from the Analects describes Confucius’ musical interactions, reflecting his equalitarian humility, respect for others in social conduct, and his love for learning through collaborative exchange.

“Among three people walking, there must be one who can be my teacher. I choose the good qualities in others and follow them; I see the bad qualities in others and correct them in myself.”(Analects 7.22)

This is highly consistent with the principle of “selecting what is good and learning from it” embodied in the act of “asking someone to sing again and then joining in the harmony”.

When Confucius heard someone sing beautifully, he would ask the singer to repeat the piece and then harmonize with it – this was exactly the practice of the humble attitude of “using others’ strengths to make up for one’s own shortcomings”, never becoming complacent because of his status or knowledge.

“To know what one knows, and to know what one does not know – that is true wisdom.”(Analects 2.17)

Acknowledging one’s own inadequacies and taking the initiative to learn from those who are virtuous is akin to the modest gesture of “asking someone to sing again”. It reflects a reverence for “goodness” and a clear awareness of one’s own level of understanding.