A parent is often interrupted in the course of a narrative, or discussion, by a small piping voice, setting right, or what it believes to be right, some date, place, or fact, and the parent, after a word of encouragement or thanks, proceeds.

How different is our rule that a child is not to speak until spoken to! In Chinese official life under the old regime it was not etiquette for one official to contradict another, especially when they were unequal in rank.

When a high official expressed views which his subordinates did not endorse, they could not candidly give their opinion, but had to remain silent.

I remember that some years ago some of my colleagues and I had an audience with a very high official, and when I expressed my dissent from some of the views of that high functionary, he rebuked me severely.

Afterward he called me to him privately, and spoke to me somewhat as follows: "What you said just now was quite correct.