千羊之皮,不如一狐之掖;千人之诺诺,不如一士之谔谔。

qiān yáng zhī pí, bù rú yī hú zhī yè; qiān rén zhī nuò nuò, bù rú yī shì zhī è è.

今日拾句2026年8月3日/《史记·商君列传》/司马迁

释义Explanation

千只羊的皮毛不如一只狐狸腋下的皮毛珍贵,众多唯唯诺诺的人不如一个直言敢谏之士有价值。比喻数量不敌质量,随声附和远不如直言诤谏可贵。这句话强调忠直之言的重要性和独立思考的价值,鼓励人们不盲从、敢说真话,在集体中尤其警醒:明辨是非、坚守原则胜于无原则的附和。

This saying means that a thousand common sheepskins cannot match the exquisite fur from a single fox's armpit, and the chorus of a thousand yes-men is not as valuable as one outspoken critic. It underscores that quality trumps quantity, and honest, principled advice is far more precious than blind obedience. It reminds us that independent thinking and courageous truth-telling are essential for progress, and that we should nurture environments where dissent is valued.

使用场景Usage

在团队决策或公共讨论中,当众人出于从众心理或畏惧权威而默认一致时,某成员勇敢指出问题、提出不同看法,从而避免重大失误。此时可用此句赞扬其直言不讳的品格,也可用来反思“一言堂”文化的弊端,强调组织需要培养敢说真话的氛围。

In a business meeting or public debate where everyone else nods in agreement without critical thought, one brave person speaks up with a dissenting and well-reasoned opinion, preventing a poor decision. This quote can be used to applaud such courage and to advocate for a culture that values constructive dissent over blind conformity, highlighting that true wisdom often comes from solitary, honest voices.