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Analects 6:19

Confucius said

You may speak of higher subjects to the above average parts of people, but you may not speak of higher subjects to the below average parts of people.


To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced. L


You may speak of higher subjects to those who rise above the average level of mankind, but not to those who fall below it. G


To the average man, and those above the average, it is possible to discourse on higher subjects; to those from the average downwards, it is not possible. J


To men above the common we may speak of things above the common.

To men below the common we must not speak of things above the common. H

Commentary

The chun tzu is vigilantly adaptive to others.


It is not yi to speak to everyone the same way, or discuss all matters with all people.

Thus, in choosing who to speak to and what matters to discuss with each person, the chun tzu uses discretion, and considers variables such as the person’s character, the subject, the situation, and his relation to the person.

He goes far in dealing with those who come following tao and are respectful.

But he is not persistent in discussing broad aspects of yi with someone who is narrow-mindedly tied to his own orthodoxy and is not seeking tao—for such a person is not ready to receive such views.