择其善者而从之

擇其善者而從之
zé qí shànzhě ér cóng zhī
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 choose what is good in them and follow it
  2. 2 learn from others' strengths (literally: select the good ones among them and follow them)

Examples

HSK 3
Dúshū de dàolǐ jiùshì zéqíshànzhě'ércóngzhī.
The principle of reading is to choose what is good and follow it.
HSK 4
Gēn tóngshì xiāngchǔ, yào zéqíshànzhě'ércóngzhī.
When getting along with colleagues, learn from their strong points.

Tips

history
From the Analects 《论语·述而》: 三人行,必有我师焉。择其善者而从之,其不善者而改之。 (When three walk together, one of them must be my teacher. Choose what is good and follow it; identify what is bad and correct it.) Confucius' classic formulation of learning from everyone around you.
usage
Often quoted together with the preceding line 三人行必有我师. In modern speech it is used as a ready-made phrase urging humility and selective imitation.

Stroke Order

shàn
zhě
ér
cóng
zhī