The Original Quote:
子夏之门人问交于子张，子张曰：“子夏云何？”对曰：“子夏曰：‘可者与之，其不可者拒之。’”子张曰：“异乎吾所闻。君子尊贤而容众，嘉善而矜不能。我之大贤与，于人何所不容？我之不贤与，人将拒我，如之何其拒人也？”
Zǐxià zhī ménrén wèn jiāo yú Zǐzhāng, Zǐzhāng yuē: “Zǐxià yún hé?” Duì yuē: “Zǐxià yuē: ‘Kě zhě yǔ zhī, qí bùkě zhě jù zhī.’” Zǐzhāng yuē: “Yì hū wú suǒ wén. Jūnzǐ zūn xián ér róng zhòng, jiā shàn ér jīn bùnéng. Wǒ zhī dà xián yǔ, yú rén hé suǒ bù róng? Wǒ zhī bù xián yǔ, rén jiāng jù wǒ, rú zhī hé qí jù rén yě?”
English Translation:
Disciples of Zixia asked Zizhang about the way of friendship. Zizhang said, “What did Zixia say?” They replied, “Zixia said: ‘Those who are worthy, associate with them; those who are unworthy, reject them.’” Zizhang responded, “This differs from what I have heard. A junzi (君子, exemplary person) reveres the worthy yet embraces the multitude; commends the good yet shows compassion for the incapable. If I am greatly virtuous, what among men can I not tolerate? If I am not virtuous, others will reject me—how then can I presume to reject others?”
Key Concepts Explained:
- Junzi (君子): The Confucian ideal of the "exemplary person" or "gentleman," cultivated through virtue and ritual propriety, serving as a moral model for society.
- Ren (仁): "Benevolence" or "humaneness," the core virtue of Confucianism, emphasizing empathy and the capacity to love others.
- Li (礼): "Ritual propriety," the system of norms and rites that regulate conduct, fostering harmony and moral refinement.
- Xian (贤): "Worthiness" or "virtue," referring to individuals of moral excellence who are to be revered and emulated.
- Rong Zhong (容众): "Embracing the multitude," the practice of inclusive tolerance toward ordinary people, reflecting the Confucian value of universal compassion.
Cultural Context:
This passage from the Analects (论语, Lúnyǔ) illustrates the diversity of Confucian teachings through the contrasting views of two disciples, Zixia and Zizhang. The Han scholar Cai Yong (蔡邕) explained that Confucius tailored his advice to each student's temperament: Zixia was overly lenient, so he was warned to be selective, while Zizhang was too critical, so he was urged to be inclusive. This "teaching according to aptitude" (因材施教, yīn cái shī jiào) is a hallmark of Confucian pedagogy. The dialogue underscores a central tension in Confucian ethics: balancing the cultivation of personal virtue with the social duty of broad-minded tolerance. Historically, this debate shaped later Chinese social norms, where figures like Hu Shi (胡适) embodied Zizhang's inclusive approach, befriending people from all walks of life. The text remains a timeless guide for navigating interpersonal relationships, advocating self-reflection and openness over rigid exclusion.