Gongqiu Yizi asked what made Zisi say so, to which Zisi responded:
“When a king thinks he is perfect, no one dares to voice an opinion. Even though a ruler acts correctly, without listening to others' suggestions amounts to having rejected the advice of others. By the same token, the ministers will echo a false decision and favor a poor mindset.
“So instead of enabling the ruler to discern which is right or wrong, the ruler basks in the flattery of his subjects. Rather than evaluating if the ruler's decision is prudent, the ministers flatter him with outrageous praise. Consequently, ruling the nation from that vantage point makes the populace disgruntled and the nation will no longer be stable.”
Zisi addressed the King of Wei: “Your nation is doomed.”
The ruler asked, “Why is this so?”
Zisi replied, “Nothing happens in a vacuum or without reason. No minister under a king who thinks he is perfect, would dare to correct his errors. The king and his cadres live with the illusion that they act righteously, and even the servants echo these views because they benefit from empty praise and pointing out his flaws is considered a crime. How can that lead to a good outcome?”
Kings and courtiers or cadres are not the only ones who must be aware of these principles. It is desirable to strive for perfection and not rely on the help of others, but we often don't recognize our own mistakes. Only when we respectfully listen to another's viewpoint can we minimize our own flaws and thus avoid potentially serious mistakes.
According to a Chinese proverb, “An ocean is vast, assimilating the waters from streams and rivers.” Other people's opinions are like these waters. Anyone assuming he is perfect dams these waters. Then, no matter how large the ocean, without these streams and rivers flowing into it freely, it would soon dry up.
Anyone thinking he is perfect operates from a basis of ignorance and egocentricity. To counteract such thought processes, we must remember the traditional values and be glad others point out one's own shortcomings.
