折疑論 1.36

1.36

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.)