談何容易

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談何容易

1. (chiefly obsolete) it is no easy matter to give good advice (especially to one's superior); to speak is difficult

   • 先生曰：「於戲，可乎哉？可乎哉？談何容易！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     先生曰：“於戏，可乎哉？可乎哉？谈何容易！” [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Han, circa 1^st century CE

     Xiānshēng yuē: “Wūhū, kě hū zāi? Kě hū zāi? Tán héróng yì!” [Pinyin]

     "Alas! May I? I may not! Speeches to one's superior — those easily given will never be accepted!" said Mister Nobody.

   • 賈生有言：「懇言則辭淺而不入，深言則逆耳而失指。」故曰：「談何容易。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     贾生有言：“恳言则辞浅而不入，深言则逆耳而失指。”故曰：“谈何容易。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: p. 73 BCE, Huan Kuan (桓寬) (editor). Discourses on Salt and Iron (《鹽鐵論》).

     Gǔshēng yǒu yán: “Kěnyán zé cíqiǎn ér bùrù, shēnyán zé nì'ěr ér shīzhǐ.” Gù yuē: “Tán héróng yì.” [Pinyin]

     Jia Yi said: "Cordial speech tends to be superficial and fails to make an impact, but a penetrating comment grates on the ear and fails to deliver." Hence the saying, "no place for speech made at ease."

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談何容易

1. easier said than done