The Traits of a Mean Man: Hard to Serve, Easy to Please Wrongly, Demanding Perfection

Confucius said: “The mean man is hard to serve but easy to please wrongfully; he expects men to be perfect in everything.”

The mean man is difficult to serve, and easy to please. If you try to please him, though it be in a way which is not accordant with right, he may be pleased. But in his employment of men, he wishes them to be equal to everything.

小人难事而易说也:说之虽不以道,说也;及其使人也,求备焉。

Source: The Analects, Zi Lu XIII, Chapter 25

Author: Confucius

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