Original text of "The Analects"

Zigong asked a friend. Confucius said: "Advice is a good way, stop if it doesn't work, don't humiliate yourself."

Translation

Zi Gong asked for advice on how to make friends. Confucius said: "If a friend makes a mistake, tell him sincerely and advise him tactfully. If he is unwilling to listen, keep silent to avoid humiliating yourself."

Appreciation

"It is enough to have a confidant in life", this is a famous couplet given by Mr. Lu Xun to Qu Qiubai. It is true that in life, one must abandon the temptations of authority, fame and fortune, and those who have sincere and irreversible friendships are rare and precious.

In fact, true friends should be the kind of people who are reasonable to each other, respect honor and shame, and treat each other with sincerity. If you notice that your friend has made a mistake, in order to do your best, you should first have the responsibility to give advice. Just let your friends rein in the situation and stop it, so that their role can be fully exerted.

The true value of friends lies in reminding each other to correct mistakes and encouraging each other in a positive and righteous direction. This is like-minded communication. Times have changed, and people's hearts have also changed. Nothing in the world remains unchanged.

It is obligatory to remind friends of their faults, but there are certain limits to admonishing friends for their faults. Knowing that there was nothing he could do, he had no choice but to walk away. Despite repeated advice, my friend is stubborn and refuses to change; it is best to say as little as possible to avoid embarrassment.