Why a Gentleman May Decline an Audience

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English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Gongsun Chou asked, “What is the principle behind refusing to meet the feudal lords?”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius said, “In antiquity, people did not meet a ruler unless they stood in his service. Duangan Mu climbed over a wall to avoid the Marquis of Wei; Xie Liu shut his gate and would not admit the Duke of Lu. Both went too far. When circumstances press, a meeting is permissible. Yang Huo wanted to see Confucius but disliked discourtesy. When a high officer gave a gift to a gentleman who could not receive it at home, the gentleman went to the officer’s gate to pay his respects. Yang Huo sent Confucius a cooked pig while Confucius was away; Confucius likewise went to pay his respects while Yang Huo was away. Since Yang Huo had made the first gesture, how could Confucius refuse to meet him? Zengzi said, ‘To hunch one’s shoulders and smile ingratiatingly is more painful than laboring in a summer field.’ Zilu said, ‘To speak before a relationship is established, then look at one’s shamefaced expression—that is something I cannot understand.’ From this we can see what a gentleman cultivates.”

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