8.16
The Master said, “Impetuous, but tricky! Ingenuous, but dishonest! Simple-minded, but capable of breaking promises! To such men I can give no recognition.”
子曰：「狂而不直，侗而不愿，悾悾而不信，吾不知之矣。」
Notes
This passage from the Analects fundamentally critiques “hypocritical personality” and advocates for “consistent authenticity between inner character and outer conduct”—the noble person’s virtue should not be a “performative persona” nor engage in “utilitarian pretense.”
“Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with benevolence.”(Analects 1.3)
It directly points to the hypocrisy of “fine words and an insinuating appearance”, exposes the moral flaw of “disconnection between outward demeanor and inner virtue”, and emphasizes that benevolence must stem from one’s genuine heart rather than deliberate pretense.
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