"The Master said, 'When I walk along with two others, they may serve as my teachers.'" This quote comes from The Analects, Shu Er, and is a famous saying by Confucius. It means that when several people walk together, one of them is bound to be able to serve as my teacher. Here, "three" is an abstract number meaning several people. The deeper meaning of this idiom is that anytime and anywhere, everyone has strengths worth learning from, and also has the ability to point out and correct one's shortcomings. It emphasizes a learning attitude of being modest and seeking instruction, and not being ashamed to learn from one's subordinates, reflecting the Confucian cultural spirit of valuing learning and being good at drawing lessons from others. It is used in a wide range of contexts, often in education, for self-encouragement, or to advise others to remain humble, and it can also encourage mutual learning in teamwork. Its emotional tone is positive, carrying a sense of modesty and an uplifting spirit. It reminds us not to be complacent, but to be good at discovering the strengths of others, and even to reflect on ourselves through their shortcomings, so as to continuously improve ourselves.
📝 Example
1. In team discussions, we should keep in mind that "among any three people, there must be one who can be my teacher," and listen to different opinions so that we can make progress together. (It means that everyone has something worth learning from.)
2. Even if you are already an expert, you should understand the principle that "among any three people, there must be one who can be my teacher." Only by staying humble can you keep growing. (It means that there are teachers to learn from everywhere, and one must not become arrogant or complacent.)