During the Warring States period, Zou Ji, the prime minister of Qi, wanted to persuade King Wei to accept honest criticism. He said: 'Our state is vast. In the palace, who dares defy you? Among officials, who does not fear you? Among the people, who does not seek your favor? You must be surrounded by flattery - and that means you are dangerously blind.' King Wei saw the truth in this and issued a decree: anyone who offered honest criticism would be rewarded. Soon, people lined up at the palace gates to speak their minds. The courtyard became as crowded as a marketplace.
战国时，齐国的相国邹忌为了劝齐威王要虚心接受臣子们的规劝，于是对齐威王说：我们齐国地方这么大，皇宫上上下下，有谁敢对大王无礼？满朝的文武将官，又有谁不怕您？全国百姓，有谁不希望得到您的关怀？看来恭维您的人一定很多，这样可不好，您一定会被蒙蔽得很严重！齐威王听了，觉得很有道理，马上下令给全国官员百姓，奖励正直而敢规劝他的人，于是进宫提意见的人很多，热闹得像市集一样。
Reflection & Analysis · 寓意解读
Core Wisdom
A wise ruler encourages dissent; a foolish one silences it. When leaders truly listen, the people will speak - and the nation prospers.
A wise ruler encourages dissent; a foolish one silences it. When leaders truly listen, the people will speak - and the nation prospers.