The Original Quote:
曾子曰：“以能问于不能；以多问于寡；有若无，实若虚，犯而不校。昔者吾友尝从事于斯矣。”
Zēngzǐ yuē: "Yǐ néng wèn yú bù néng; yǐ duō wèn yú guǎ; yǒu ruò wú, shí ruò xū, fàn ér bù jiào. Xīzhě wú yǒu cháng cóngshì yú sī yǐ."
English Translation:
Master Zeng said: "One who is capable yet inquires of those who are not; one who is knowledgeable yet asks of those who are less so; having learning as if without, full of substance as if empty; when wronged, he does not contend. Of old, a friend of mine once practiced this."
Key Concepts Explained:
- 虚 (xū): Emptiness or humility of mind, a state of receptivity essential for learning, akin to the Daoist ideal of being open and unpretentious.
- 校 (jiào): To contend or retaliate; here, it signifies forbearance and non-retaliation, reflecting the Confucian virtue of tolerance.
- 友 (yǒu): Friend or companion, in this context referring to Yan Hui (颜回, Yán Huí), Confucius's most virtuous disciple, known for his humility and wisdom.
- 仁 (rén): Benevolence or humaneness, the core Confucian virtue underlying such humble conduct.
Cultural Context:
This passage from the Analects (Lunyu, 论语) echoes Confucius's teaching of "not being ashamed to ask of one's inferiors" (不耻下问, bù chǐ xià wèn). Zengzi (曾子), a leading disciple, praises a friend—widely identified as Yan Hui—who embodied radical humility: learning from the less capable and maintaining an attitude of emptiness despite deep knowledge. In classical Confucian thought, such humility was not weakness but a mark of moral cultivation, fostering social harmony through mutual respect and non-confrontation. This principle remains a cornerstone of East Asian educational values, emphasizing lifelong learning and self-cultivation over pride in achievement.