The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name. [1]
attributed to Confucius
Note
In The Analects, Confucius affirms: ‘If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If names be not correct, affairs cannot be carried on to success.’ In: Confucius, The Analects, trans. William E. Soothill (Yokohama: Fukuin Printing Company Ld, 1910), Volume VII, Book XIII, Chapter III,5, 608.
That quote has also been paraphrased as the famous Chinese proverb attributed to Confucius: ‘The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.’
Cited Work
Confucius. The Analects, translated by William E. Soothill. Yokohama: Fukuin Printing Company Ld, 1910.
Image Credits
Featured Image by DDDanny D on unsplash.com
