Respect for Teachers
When Shusun Wushu said at court that Zigong was superior to Confucius, Zigong replied, 'Let me use the analogy of a surrounding wall. My wall reaches only to shoulder height, so one can peer over and see the pleasant rooms inside. My Master's wall stands many fathoms high; unless you find the gate and enter, you cannot see the beauty of the ancestral temple or the richness of all within.'
Zigong, himself a brilliant and accomplished man, refuses a compliment that would elevate him above his teacher. His analogy is memorable: a lesser person's qualities are visible at a glance, but the greatest teacher's depth requires patient entry through the right gate. Flattery that undermines a teacher's standing is gently but firmly redirected.