The Double Fault: Confucius on Mismanaging Speech and Silence

Confucius said: “Two errors in speaking: missing the right person, and saying the wrong thing.”

When a man may be spoken with, not to speak to him is to err in reference to the man. When a man may not be spoken with, to speak to him is to err in reference to our words.

可与言而不与之言,失人;不可与言而与之言,失言。

Source: The Analects, Wei Ling Gong XV, Chapter 8

Author: Confucius

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