But is wisdom acquired? It is true, Confucius said, ‘Those who are born with knowledge are the highest. Next come those who attain knowledge through study. Next again come those who turn to study after having been vexed by difficulties. The common people, in so far as they make no effort to study even after having been vexed by difficulties, are the lowest’ (XVI.9), but he made no claim to be amongst those born with knowledge. In fact he explicitly rejected this when he said, ‘I was not born with knowledge but, being fond of antiquity, I am quick to seek it’ (VII.20).
