The Duke of Qi came back from a hunt, and Liangqiu Ju rode out to meet him. The duke said: “Only Ju is in harmony with me.” Yanzi answered: “Ju only agrees with you. How can that be harmony?”
Harmony, he said, is like a soup. Water, fire, vinegar, sauce, salt and plums are used to cook fish and meat, and the cook blends them, adding what is lacking and reducing what is too much. It is the same with ruler and minister. When the ruler calls something right that is partly wrong, the minister points out the wrong.
“Ju is not like that. When the ruler says yes, Ju says yes. When the ruler says no, Ju says no. If one seasons water with water, who could eat it?” (Zuo Commentary, Duke Zhao, year 20)