Haha there is something right about Wukong being a great monkey who either shares his spoils with other monkeys or suffers alone, so that it's exactly the hubri

Haha there is something right about Wukong being a great monkey who either shares his spoils with other monkeys or suffers alone, so that it's exactly the hubris I was accusing Mencius of. Otoh there is the famous story of young Confucius getting "rejected" by Laozi.. (Sima Qian, Shiji) 孔子適周，將問禮於老子。 老子曰：「子所言者，其人與骨皆已朽矣，獨其言在耳。且君子得其時則駕，不得其時則蓬累而行。吾聞之，良賈深藏若虛，君子盛德容貌若愚。去子之驕氣與多欲，態色與淫志，是皆無益於子之身。吾所以告子，若是而已。」 ..."I have heard that a shrewd merchant hides his wealth deeply, appearing as if he has nothing; a gentleman of abundant virtue keeps a demeanor that looks like foolishness."... This way of avoiding (direct!) teaching & sharing sounds both more actionable and appealing to me :) For Westerners, Court Jesters? Korean movie King's Man? But like you, I habitually do the opposite..