巧言令色

Attested in the Book of Documents (《尚書·皐陶謨》):

能哲而惠，何憂乎驩兜？何遷乎有苗？何畏乎巧言令色孔壬？ [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]

---

能哲而惠，何忧乎欢兜？何迁乎有苗？何畏乎巧言令色孔壬？ [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

From: The Book of Documents, circa 4^th – 3^rd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Néng zhé ér huì, hé yōu hū Huān Dōu? Hé qiān hū Yǒumiáo? Hé wèi hū qiǎoyán lìngsè kǒngrén? [Pinyin]

When he can be (thus) wise and kind, what occasion will he have for anxiety about a Huan-dou? what to be removing a lord of Miao? what to fear any one of fair words, insinuating appearance, and great artfulness?

Also attested in the Analects, Book 1 (《論語·學而》):

子曰：「巧言令色，鮮矣仁！」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]

---

子曰：「巧言令色，鲜矣仁！」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zǐ yuē: “Qiǎoyán lìngsè, xiān yǐ rén!” [Pinyin]

The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue."

巧言令色

1. with flourishing words and friendly countenance; with insincere courtesy

   • 今予命汝作大正，正于群僕侍御之臣，懋乃后德，交修不逮。慎簡乃僚，無以巧言令色、便辟、側媚，其惟吉士。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     今予命汝作大正，正于群仆侍御之臣，懋乃后德，交修不逮。慎简乃僚，无以巧言令色、便辟、侧媚，其惟吉士。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: Forged Old Text of the Book of Documents, circa 3^rd – 4^th century CE

     Jīn yú mìng rǔ zuò dàzhèng, zhèng yú qún pú shìyù zhī chén, mào nǎi hòu dé, jiāo xiū bùdài. Shèn jiǎn nǎi liáo, wú yǐ qiǎoyánlìngsè, piánpì, cèmèi, qí wéi jíshì. [Pinyin]

     Now I appoint you to be High Chamberlain, to see that all the officers in your department and my personal attendants are upright and correct, that they strive to promote the virtue of their sovereign, and together supply my deficiencies. Be careful in selecting your officers. Do not employ men of artful speech and insinuating looks, men whose likes and dislikes are ruled by mine, one-sided men and flatterers; but employ good men.

• 巧言令色，鮮矣仁／巧言令色，鲜矣仁 (qiǎoyánlìngsè, xiǎnyǐrén)