“When sensual desires first awaken” refers to the stirring of lustful thoughts upon being tempted. Once lascivious desires take root, one disregards ruining others’ reputations, commits adultery with others’ wives and daughters, and loses one’s heaven‑endowed moral conscience.
One who ought to be a scholar‑official is turned into a dissolute libertine.
“Jade Hall” denotes the Hanlin Academy’s official premises; “the scholar-official” refers here to its learned officials. “Dissolute” denotes lewd and depraved conduct. It speaks of promising young men endowed with the potential to become distinguished scholars. Yet, overcome by lust, they ruin their own prospects and end their days as pleasure‑seeking profligates.
Even those of upright and extraordinary talent shall assuredly meet frustration in their official careers.
“Upright and extraordinary” means open‑minded and outstanding. “Extraordinary talent” denotes remarkable intellectual gifts. “Meet frustration” means suffering repeated setbacks and thwarted endeavors. Though a youth may possess exceptional talent, if he falls into sexual misconduct, his career and official advancement will surely be thwarted.
Such is the fault of mediocre teachers; the harm they inflict runs deep.
“Mediocre” means commonplace and unrefined. Vulgar teachers fail to pass on the wisdom of self‑preservation to their pupils, allowing them to indulge in lust and ruin their prospects. This is the fault of mediocre teachers, and the harm they bring to others is far from trivial.
I have also seen fathers who indulge their children blindly and are slow to administer reproof.
Blind indulgence means excessive leniency. “Slow” means dilatory and remiss. “Reproof” includes admonition and correction. The Divine Sovereign says that many fathers lack clear‑sighted judgment. They spoil their children; when misdeeds call for correction, they delay and withhold discipline. Is this not blind indulgence?
At the slightest smattering of knowledge, they tell everyone they meet that their sons are fine boys. For trivial skills or small merits, they go about loudly boasting of their worthy sons.