Dogs don't think good barking is good, and people don't think good words are good. This sentence comes from Zhuangzi. If you savor it carefully, you will find a lot. Dogs don't think they are good dogs just because they can bark. Just because a person is good at talking doesn't mean that he is a good person.
Zhuangzi, as a representative of Taoism, thinks that quietness is the work of saints. He believes that saints are generally not good at words, but in words and deeds. A boaster is not necessarily a talented person, but people are often easily influenced, which exposes a weakness of human nature and likes to listen to flattery, thus being influenced by others. This is called slander. As early as thousands of years ago, Zhuangzi revealed this truth, but after thousands of years, how much have we changed? Throughout history, I don't know how many emperors lost their talents and even lost their country.
During the Warring States Period of Chu, Qu Yuan was regarded as a talented person, but the slanderous remarks of the current Shangguan doctor on Chu Huaiwang led to Qu Yuan's tragedy. At that time, Shangguan doctor was on an equal footing with him, trying to please the king and being jealous of Qu Yuan's talent. Chu Huaiwang asked Qu Yuan to make laws, but Qu Yuan's draft was not finalized. When Shangguan saw it, he wanted to change it by force. Qu Yuan didn't agree, so he slandered Qu Yuan in front of Chu Huaiwang and said, Your Majesty asked Qu Yuan to make laws, and everyone knows that. Every time he promulgated the law, Qu Yuan boasted of his contribution and said that no one could do it except me. Wang Huai was very angry, so he alienated Qu Yuan, so that Qu Yuan's heart of serving the country could not be put to good use. Finally, he resolutely threw himself into the Miluo River and died. Soon after, the state of Chu perished.
During the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Chan, the late ruler of Shu Han, listened to the slanderers of eunuch Huang Hao around him, and ignored state affairs all day long, thus becoming the king of national subjugation.
During Song Huizong's time, there were many people around him, such as Gao Qiu, Yang Jian, Cai Jing and Tong Guan. But it was they who accelerated the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty.
People who speak well are not necessarily talented and virtuous, but sometimes they are flatterers. This shows that flattery is regardless of the times, social system and country. Someone once defined flattery philosophy: the best way to win people's trust is to appeal to their hobbies, praise their mottos, praise their shortcomings and praise their actions in front of him. Don't be afraid to be too careful. Although it is obvious at first glance that you are teasing them, even the smartest people are willing to fall for flattery. This sentence really hits the nail on the head A good talker is not necessarily wise.