be near to worthies and keep away from mean fellows

be near to worthies and keep away from mean fellows

It is a Chinese idiom. Pinyin is Q ī nxi á NYU ǎ NN ì ng, which means to be close to talented people and alienate flattering people. The source of the book is the former teacher's model by Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms.

Idiom explanation

Sycophant: a person who flatters. Get close to the talented and wise, and get away from the flattering and petty.

The origin of Idioms

According to the former teacher's model written by Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms, it is said that "if you are close to the virtuous officials, you will be far away from the inferior ones, which is why the Han Dynasty prospered; if you are close to the inferior ones, you will be far away from the virtuous officials, which is why the Han Dynasty declined."

Idiom usage

Example: Volume 3 of Shun Zong Shi Lu written by Han Yu of Tang Dynasty: "you respect your teacher and Fu, and you are kind, virtuous and far-reaching. If you don't follow the Tao, don't walk. If you don't follow the etiquette, don't walk." In the history of the Ming Dynasty, biographies 72: "Shangshu advised the prince to be a wise man and a sycophant, to be diligent in learning, to abstain from leisure, and to be a good emperor."