Tsze-chang asked what constituted intelligence. The Master said, "He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful, may be called intelligent indeed. Yea, he with whom neither soaking slander, nor startling statements, are successful, may be called far-seeing."

6. WHAT CONSTITUTES INTELLIGENCE:—ADDRESSED TO TSZE-CHANG. Tsze-chang, it is said, was always seeking to be wise about things lofty and distant, and therefore Conf. brings him back to things near at hand, which it was more necessary for him to attend to. 浸润之赞, 'soaking, moistening, slander', which unperceived sinks into the mind. 肤受之愬 (=and interchanged with 诉), 'statements of wrongs which startle like a wound in the flesh', to which in the surprise credence is given. He with whom these things 不行,—are 'no go', is intelligent,—yea, far-seeing. 远=明之至. So, Choo He. The old interpr. differ in their view of 肤受之愬. The 注疏 says—'The skin receives dust which gradually accumulates.' This makes the phrase synonymous with the former.