He is all smiles to everyone - it's hard to tell what he really thinks.
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history
From Zhu Xi's 《伊洛渊源录》 (Song): the philosopher Cheng Hao sat as still as a clay figure, yet in dealing with people was "one ball of harmonious energy" - originally pure praise.
usage
Modern usage has soured - often implies fake harmony, avoiding conflict at the cost of truth. Context tells you which sense applies.
