巧言令色章

Original text

子曰：“巧言令色，鲜矣仁。”

Translation

Confucius said, "Hardly with any benevolence is one with adulatory words and flattering look."

Annotation from research

Here Confucius lists an counterexample for benevolence. If we can simplify the concept of benevolence to "the kindness toward people", we must look out so as not to be deceived by the nice appearance. Benevolence is created upon a basis of truth and empressement. Sometimes, adulatory words and flattering look is only a kind of etiquette. But if one takes the flattery as the only artifice for personal development, it goes too far. Confucius is by no means setting equality between etiquette and flattery, though these two looks very similar on the first sight. So, Confucius reminds the people in power not to be deceived when reviewing and appointing new political comers in this section as well.