以小人之心,度君子之腹

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Chinese

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to use; according to; so as to
to use; according to; so as to; in order to; by; with; because; Israel (abbrev.)
 
scoundrel or villain; person of low position 's; him/her/it; this heart; mind capacity; degree; standard 's; him/her/it; this abdomen; stomach; belly
trad. (以小人之心,度君子之腹) 小人 君子
simp. #(以小人之心,度君子之腹) 小人 君子
Literally: “to gauge the heart of a gentleman with one's own mean measure”.

Etymology

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Its form is based on this optative statement by Yan Mo (閻沒) and Ru Kuan (女寬) to Wei Shu (魏舒), to subtly advise him not to take bribes (in Zuozhuan, Zhao 28):

Its meaning is based on this rhetorical question by Ran Qiu (冉求), who alluded to his - an inferior's - own inability to gauge his superiors' minds, to subtly urge Shusun Zhouchou (叔孫州仇) and Meng Yizi (孟懿子) to fight (in Zuozhuan, Ai 11):

The combination of form (with slight differences) and meaning is attested in a saying attributed to Yu Ai (庾敳) (in A New Account of the Tales of the World):

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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以小人之心,度君子之腹

  1. to be cynical; to be skeptical of the integrity, sincerity, or motives of others

Descendants

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