折疑論 1.36

1.36

妙明曰。子貢云。君子一言以為知。一言以為不知。言不可慎也（知皆音智。論語。陳子禽謂子貢曰。子為恭也。仲尼豈賢於子乎。言謂恭者謂恭敬。推遜其師也。子貢曰。君子一言以為知云云。此責子禽不謹言也。蓋一言善為智。一言不善為不智。智不知係於一言。不可不謹慎也）。

Miaoming said, 'Zigong said: "By a single word a noble person is deemed wise, and by a single word he is deemed unwise; one cannot but be prudent in one's words." (The characters for 'wise' are both pronounced zhi. The Analects: Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, 'You are merely being respectful. Is Zhongni truly more worthy than you?' Saying he was respectful meant he was being reverent and deferential toward his teacher. Zigong said: 'By a single word a noble person is deemed wise,' and so forth. This reproaches Ziqin for not being prudent in his words. For one good word makes one wise, and one ungood word makes one unwise. Wisdom or lack thereof hangs upon a single word; one cannot but be prudent.)