Credibility Archives - Page 6 of 8

An Awl in a Bag

Lord Pingyuan of Zhao was choosing twenty retainers for a mission to Chu when Mao Sui offered himself. The lord asked how long he had served. Three years, said Mao Sui. “A capable man in the world is like an awl in a bag,” the lord replied. “Its tip shows at once.” In three years, no one had praised Mao Sui, so the lord concluded that he had nothing.

“Then today I ask to be put in the bag,” Mao Sui answered. “Had I been put in it earlier, the whole awl would have slipped out, not only the tip.” The other nineteen exchanged mocking looks. In Chu, they all gave way to him in debate. (Records of the Grand Historian)

The idiom Mao Sui zi jian, Mao Sui recommends himself, means to volunteer oneself. The lord’s first question had been how long he had served.

Listen to the Words, Watch the Deeds

When his disciple Zai Yu slept during the day, Confucius said: “At first, with people, I listened to their words and trusted their deeds. Now, with people, I listen to their words and watch their deeds. It was Zai Yu who made me change.” (Analects 5.10)

He also said: “The gentleman wishes to be slow in speech and quick in action.” (Analects 4.24)

Sayings on Skill and Proof

真金不怕火炼 True gold does not fear the fire. Said of what is right, and of upright people, who stand any test.

事实胜于雄辩 Facts are stronger than eloquence.

半瓶醋 Half a bottle of vinegar. A person with a little knowledge or skill, but not much. A dictionary example: “Listen to him talk big. In fact, he is only half a bottle of vinegar.”

班门弄斧 To swing an axe at the door of Lu Ban, the master carpenter. To show off one’s skill in front of experts.

真人不露相，露相不真人 The true master does not show his face. The one who shows his face is not a true master. Said of people with real ability who do not make a show of it. (Journey to the West)

大智若愚 Great wisdom seems foolish. Said of people of outstanding talent who do not show it.

The Vocabulary of Seniority

论资排辈 To rank by seniority and generation. To set a person’s level and treatment by length of service and generation. A dictionary example: “When a work unit assigns housing, ranking by seniority cannot be avoided.”

老资格 Old credentials. Standing and authority that come with age, as in “a veteran diplomat.”

前辈 A person who is older, or who has longer service.

Huawei’s Mattresses

At Huawei, the mattress became a symbol. A company text from 2006, titled Heaven Rewards Diligence, describes the origin of Huawei’s chuangdian wenhua, mattress culture. In the words of the business site Jiemian, the mattress stands for “a culture of continuous striving.” Ren Zhengfei once said: “Huawei has no money. If people do not strive, it will collapse. We cannot pay anything for those who do not strive.”

In 2008, Ren played the symbol down. “The mattress is not a culture. Culture can be passed on. A mattress is only a tool for an afternoon nap.”

The Vocabulary of Reliability

靠谱 Reliable. Said of what is sensible and makes sense. A dictionary example: “This person does things reliably.”

放鸽子 To release the pigeons. To break an appointment and lose someone’s trust.

凡事有交代，件件有着落，事事有回音 Every matter accounted for, every item settled, every message answered. A business article says that some people define being reliable by these three things, and that the three are really one: closing the loop.

Three Errors in Attendance

In the Analects, Confucius says: “In attending on a gentleman, there are three errors. To speak before it is one’s turn to speak is called rashness. Not to speak when it is one’s turn is called concealment. To speak without first watching his expression is called blindness.” (侍于君子有三愆：言未及之而言谓之躁，言及之而不言谓之隐，未见颜色而言谓之瞽。)

Speaking Before a Teacher

The opening chapter of the Book of Rites, Quli, sets out how the young speak in front of elders and teachers. “When an elder has not raised a matter, do not cut in with talk.” (长者不及，毋儳言) “Sitting with a teacher, when the teacher asks a question, answer only when he has finished.”

Meeting a teacher on the road, a student hurries forward and stands straight. “If the teacher speaks to him, he answers. If the teacher does not speak to him, he hurries away.” In front of a friend of his father, he does not answer unless he is asked.

Gentle Remonstrance

In the Analects, Confucius says: “In serving one’s father and mother, remonstrate gently. If they show that they will not follow the advice, remain respectful and do not oppose them. Work hard and do not complain.” (事父母几谏，见志不从，又敬不违，劳而不怨。)

The Handian dictionary defines 几谏 as “to remonstrate in a tactful, roundabout way.”

The Vocabulary of Light Words

人微言轻 The person is low, so the words are light. What a person of low position says is not taken seriously. Su Shi used the phrase in a letter: “I have reported this matter three times and have had no reply. The person is low and the words are light, so it is only natural.”

插嘴 To insert a mouth. To speak before another person has finished.

打官腔 To strike the official tone. To answer with official set phrases in order to put someone off.