Criticism and Reputation
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
貉稽曰：“稽大不理于口。”
English translation
Mo Ji said, “I am greatly maligned by people’s talk.”
Original Chinese text
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。”
English translation
Mencius replied, “There is no need to be troubled. Men of principle are often disliked by those who talk too much. The Book of Odes says, ‘Anxious and distressed, resented by the petty men’—that refers to Confucius. It also says, ‘He did not wholly put an end to their resentment, yet he did not lose his reputation’—that refers to King Wen. Criticism from petty people does not erase a worthy person’s character or standing.”