Lines from the Alley
English

17 / 20 · 8 panels

The Back of the Name Tag

Panel 1
Jian laid out the name tags.
Panel 2
She assigned roles based on a line from each form.
Panel 3
A participant said, “I’m more comfortable making things than explaining them.”
Panel 4
Jian asked, “What have you worked on before?”
Panel 5
The participant took out a tool they had made.
Panel 6
The other participant carefully explained how to use it.
Panel 7
Jian asked, “Which role would each of you like?”
Panel 8
Each name tag now had a chosen role on the back.

Source and notes

Original text
樊遲問「仁」。子曰：「愛人。」問「知」。子曰：「知人。」
Read the source · 十二之二二
Meaning
When Fan Chi asks about benevolence and wisdom, Confucius answers that they mean caring for people and knowing people, respectively. The rest of the passage discusses recognizing and appointing people.
Modern adaptation
Jian reconsiders the roles she inferred from the forms and asks what each participant wants to do.
Takeaway
One line of information cannot tell you everything about a person’s abilities or wishes.
Today’s question
What question would help you begin to get to know someone?