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The Master said, “When it comes to people, whom have I ever slandered? Whom have I ever praised lightly? If I have praised anyone, it was only after testing and verifying their character. It is precisely these common people who enabled the Three Dynasties – Xia, Shang, and Zhou – to follow the straight…
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The Master said, “The noble person does not promote someone solely on the basis of his words, nor does he reject someone’s words solely because of who he is.”
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Zi Zhang asked about clarity (or discernment). The Master said, “If insidious slander—like water slowly soaking in—and urgent, emotionally charged accusations—like a wound to the skin—cannot take hold with you, you may be called ming. If such slander and complaints find no traction in you, you may also be called farsighted.”