《Caigentan – Former Collection #23》 [023]
📜 Original Text
攻人之惡,毋太嚴,要思其堪受;教人之善,毋過高,當使其可從。
📚 Translation
When rebuking others for their faults, do not be too strict; you must first consider whether they can bear it.
When teaching others goodness, do not set the standard too high; you must enable them to follow.
✍️ Hanja Breakdown
- 攻 (gōng): To attack, criticize, rebuke, find fault with, assail shortcomings.
- 人 (rén): Person, others.
- 之 (zhī): Possessive particle (~'s); object particle (to ~).
- 惡 (è): Evil, bad; fault, mistake, sin, bad conduct.
- 攻人之惡 (gōng rén zhī è): To rebuke/criticize others' faults/mistakes.
- 毋 (wú): Do not (prohibition).
- 太 (tài): Too, excessively.
- 嚴 (yán): Strict, severe, harsh.
- 毋太嚴 (wú tài yán): Do not be too strict.
- 要 (yào): Important, necessary, must, should, certainly must.
- 思 (sī): To think, consider.
- 要思 (yào sī): Must consider, ought to consider.
- 其 (qí): His/her/its, that person.
- 堪 (kān): To endure, bear, tolerate.
- 受 (shòu): To receive, accept.
- 堪受 (kān shòu): To endure, to bear.
- 要思其堪受 (yào sī qí kān shòu): You must consider whether they can bear it.
- 教 (jiāo): To teach.
- 善 (shàn): Good, virtuous; good deed, virtue, righteousness.
- 教人之善 (jiāo rén zhī shàn): To teach others goodness.
- 毋 (wú): Do not (prohibition).
- 過 (guò): To exceed, be excessive.
- 高 (gāo): High, lofty.
- 毋過高 (wú guò gāo): Do not be too high, do not be excessively high.
- 當 (dāng): Ought to, should, must.
- 使 (shǐ): To cause, enable, make.
- 其 (qí): His/her/its, that person.
- 可 (kě): Possible, able to, can.
- 從 (cóng): To follow, comply with.
- 可從 (kě cóng): Able to follow, worthy of following.
- 當使其可從 (dāng shǐ qí kě cóng): You must enable them to follow it.
🔍 Explanation
This passage presents wise attitudes required in two important situations when interacting with others: 'when rebuking faults' and 'when teaching goodness.'
It emphasizes the principles of empathy and practicality, which involve considering the other person's situation and capacity, rather than imposing overly strict moral standards.
The first sentence advises, "When rebuking others for their faults, do not be too strict. You must first consider whether they can bear it."
This means that when pointing out someone's mistake, the criticism itself should not be the sole purpose. If you rebuke too harshly or with a condemnatory tone, the other person might become rebellious or despair, losing the will to correct their behavior.
Therefore, it emphasizes the wisdom of 'gentle admonition,' which respects the other person's dignity and self-esteem, and first considers whether they have the psychological space and ability to accept the criticism and improve.
The second sentence states that when teaching goodness to people, if you only set high ideals that are detached from reality, no one will ultimately be able to practice them.
Therefore, it emphasizes the wisdom of 'eye-level education,' where it is important to consider the other person's current capacity and situation, and present realistic, step-by-step goals that they can actually follow and implement.
If only high standards or abstract goals that are difficult to practice are presented, the other person might become frustrated or lose motivation, eventually moving away from virtuous actions.
In conclusion, this passage offers true wisdom for transforming and helping others grow in human relationships.
It stresses that criticism must be based on empathy, considering 'the other person's ability to bear it,' and teaching must be based on practicality, considering 'the feasibility of implementation.'
This wise approach is precisely the path that can truly lead people and bring about positive change.