Blaming not the speaker, but heeding the warning

Blaming not the speaker, but heeding the warning

This is a line from The Book of Songs. It means that a kind speaker should not be blamed even if his opinion is not correct, while the listener should heed the warning even if he does not have the shortcomings or errors.

This saying also exhorts the rulers to allow the people to speak up their mind freely and thus create sound and harmonious conditions for interpersonal relations. At the same time, the rulers should be broad-minded enough to heed all kinds of opinions and solicit insightful views. A saying from the oldest collection of Chinese poetry, it endorses inclusiveness and freedom of speech.

Speaking at the opening of the 2012 spring semester of the Central Party School, Xi Jinping said: Leading officials must follow this ancient principle and welcome and encourage others to tell the truth.

言者无罪，闻者足戒

“言者无罪，闻者足戒”，出自《诗经》，意为提意见的人只要是善意的，即使提的不正确，也是无罪的；听取意见的人即使没有对方所提的缺点错误，也值得引以为戒。这一理念告诫执政者要想治理好国家，必须让人们畅所欲言，形成健康和谐的人际环境，同时充分了解人们的意愿和想法，以便从各种言论中汲取有价值的意见，这体现了言论自由的思想和包容精神。

2012年5月，习近平在中央党校（国家行政学院）2012年春季学期第二批入学学员开学典礼上强调，领导干部一定要本着“言者无罪，闻者足戒”的原则，欢迎和鼓励别人讲真话。