Chun Yukun said:

"I heard that talented people are hard to find. If one able and virtuous scholar can be found within a circumference of 1, 000 li, it cannot be regarded as few. If 100 years witnesses the advent of a saint, it cannot be regarded as few. Now you recommend seven able and virtuous scholars all at once, then there are too many able and virtuous scholars."

"Birds of the same feather always flock together. Wild beasts of the same kind always walk together. For example, if we wish to find medicinal herbs like the root of Chinese thorowax and the root of balloonflower on the marsh, we will never find even one in our whole life. But if we go to the north side of the Zeshu Mountain and the Liangfu Mountain, we will need carts to carry them back. In the world, things of the same kind always gather together, and it is the same with people. If you want me to select able and virtuous scholars, it will be like getting water from the river, or getting fire from a flint. What is so strange about that? I am going to recommend another big batch of able and virtuous scholars to you, far more than these seven."

Once, Chun Yukun recommended seven able and virtuous scholars to King Xuan of the State of Qi. King Xuan was surprised and said: