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Comment by oliculipolicula

5 days ago

Haha there is something right about Wukong being a great monkey who either shares his spoils with other monkeys or suffers alone, so that it's exactly the hubris I was accusing Mencius of.

Otoh there is the famous story of young Confucius getting "rejected" by Laozi.. (Sima Qian, Shiji)

孔子適周,將問禮於老子。

老子曰:「子所言者,其人與骨皆已朽矣,獨其言在耳。且君子得其時則駕,不得其時則蓬累而行。吾聞之,良賈深藏若虛,君子盛德容貌若愚。去子之驕氣與多欲,態色與淫志,是皆無益於子之身。吾所以告子,若是而已。」

..."I have heard that a shrewd merchant hides his wealth deeply, appearing as if he has nothing; a gentleman of abundant virtue keeps a demeanor that looks like foolishness."...

This way of avoiding (direct!) teaching & sharing sounds both more actionable and appealing to me :)

For Westerners, Court Jesters? Korean movie King's Man?

But like you, I habitually do the opposite..