Hexagram 4
蒙 Méng
Youthful Folly
艮
Gen — Keeping Still
Mountain · Youngest Son
坎
Kan — Abysmal
Water · Middle Son
Youthful Folly has success. It is not I who seek the young fool; the young fool seeks me. At the first oracle I inform. If asked two or three times, it is importunity. If importunate, I give no information. Perseverance furthers.
A spring wells up at the foot of the mountain: the image of Youth. Thus the superior person fosters character through thoroughness in all they do.
To make a fool develop, it furthers one to apply discipline. The fetters should be removed. To go on in this way brings humiliation.
To bear with fools in kindliness brings good fortune. To know how to take women brings good fortune. The son is capable of taking charge of the household.
Take not a maiden who, when she sees a man of bronze, loses possession of herself.
Entangled folly brings humiliation.
Childlike folly brings good fortune.
In punishing folly, it does not further one to commit transgressions. The only thing that furthers is to prevent transgressions.