Analects 12.6

Original Text:

子张问明子曰浸润之谮肤受之愬不行焉可谓明也已矣浸润之谮肤受之愬不行焉可谓远也已矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

Zizhang asked about perceptiveness.

The Master replied, “He who does not base his actions upon slanders that try to seep into one’s mind, or accusations that accumulate like dirt on one’s skin, may be called ‘perceptive.’ Indeed, such a person could even be called ‘far-sighted.’ ”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Zizhang asked about clear-sightedness. The Master said, Someone who is unmoved by insidious slander or hurtful and persistent accusations—he may be called clear-sighted. Someone who is unmoved by insidious slander or hurtful and persistent accusations may be called a person of far-reaching perception.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.