Three hundred and sixty years, there are people who are number one in every field. Some people can prosper by relying only on their eloquence, marry Bai Fumei, and reach the pinnacle of life. It is simply enviable. The ancients said: Good medicine is bitter in the mouth and good for the disease; loyal words are hard on the ears and good for the deeds! However, for most people, they don’t like to hear those offensive words. Instead, they like to be praised or even flattered by others, and they never tire of it.
The same sentence can be expressed in different ways, especially words of criticism and accusation. If it can be expressed euphemistically, it will make people feel very comfortable. If it is said directly and openly, it is very likely to offend other people. In this way, we can understand why loyal ministers in ancient times were never reused, but traitorous ministers who were good at flattering rose through the ranks and became popular around the emperor.
For thousands of years, the ancients have left us many famous sayings and aphorisms, teaching the world how to behave. Confucius, an old man, said countless words when he was giving lectures to his disciples during his lifetime. After he traveled to the west, his disciples put together his previous words in order to carry forward his thoughts. From then on, the classic work "The Analects" was produced, which was regarded as a treasure by ancient scholars. Zhao Pu, the prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, even relied on half of the Analects. Assist the emperor in governing the world.
As a famous educator in ancient times, Confucius’ talent must be beyond doubt, otherwise there would not be so many students struggling to study with him, and he was also very strict with his students. , Strict teachers produce good disciples, so many students of Confucius later became world-famous talents. Everyone has a different personality. Among Confucius's disciples, there were also those who gave him quite a headache. Confucius said angrily that "rotten wood cannot be carved" which has been passed down through the ages.
No one knows this sentence, and the meaning is not difficult to understand. "Rotten wood" refers to wood that is so rotten that it cannot be used. Even the most skilled carpenters cannot use it to make things. Good things, the implication is that people are hopeless. After Confucius said, "Rotten wood cannot be carved," he also said another sentence. In fact, that sentence is as classic as "Rotten wood cannot be carved," but few people know it.
It means "the wall of dung cannot be broken down." What does it mean? The wall of dirt here corresponds to the rotten wood, which can be understood as a dilapidated wall that is useless no matter how much it is painted. According to modern terms, it describes a person who cannot support the wall with mud. It is decadent to the core, and it takes no effort. Nothing can change him, he is a veritable scumbag.
Confucius must have a very high level of cultivation. Who made him so angry and say these words? It is none other than the very individual disciple Jaeyu. According to records, Jaeyu was different from other classmates. From time to time he asked some wild questions and even did not advocate observing filial piety for three years. He thought it was a kind of foolish filial piety, which was almost an alternative in the eyes of people at the time.
Once, Confucius found out that Jaeyu did not come to class. As a teacher, he must have been very worried. He was afraid that something might happen to him, so he quickly asked his disciples to look for him separately. It turned out that Zaiyu was hiding in the dormitory and sleeping. Kong Shengren was furious, pointed at him and shouted: "You can't carve rotten wood, and you can't tear down a wall of dung." He felt that Zaiyu would not be successful in the future.
However, Confucius was mistaken. With his extraordinary IQ, Jaeyu became a talented person and ranked among the "Thirteen Sages of Confucius". I wonder what Confucius thought of this!