This passage is from the "Xiangdang Chapter" of The Analects: "Confucius, in his native village, appeared unassuming and as if he were not good at speech. But in the ancestral temple and at court, he spoke readily, though always with caution." Confucius was born in Changping Township of Zouyi, later moving to Queli in Qufu. His "native village" refers to these two places. "Xunxun" describes a gentle and respectful demeanor. Among the elders of his hometown, Confucius always appeared gentle and respectful, as if unable to speak well. However, "in the ancestral temple and at court," when facing the ruler and ministers during court audiences and ancestral sacrifices, he spoke eloquently, though still with caution. This shows that Confucius had excellent oratory skills, but he did not flaunt them indiscriminately, instead displaying different behaviors in different settings.
Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty can be considered Confucius's kindred spirit. He explained that when Confucius was in his home village, he "seemed unable to speak, being humble and deferential, not using his worth and wisdom to surpass others." This means that Confucius appeared as if he could not speak well, modest and obedient, never speaking eloquently, because in the village he did not use his talent and wisdom to outshine others. When Confucius was in the ancestral temple and court, he "spoke clearly and fluently," because "the court is where state affairs arise, and speech must be clear and discerning. Therefore, he would inquire in detail and speak thoroughly, but he was cautious and did not overstep." Toward elders and fellow villagers, he adopted an attitude of respect and deference; when discussing affairs at court, he maintained an attitude of clarity and discernment. These two seemingly different styles actually reflect Confucius's art of dealing with people and the world. In personal conduct, one may remain low-key and avoid ostentation; in handling affairs, one must be earnest, conscientious, and fully responsible.