This concept was proposed by Mencius (372?-289BC). By “being intelligent,”he meant that one is full of wisdom, which is mainly expressed as one’s ability to analyze, judge and reason; by “following the trend of the times,”he meant to follow the basic situation or trend of existence, change and development of things. The situation or trend of objective things is objective and primary; human wisdom is subjective and secondary. True wisdom is not a solidified thing in the human mind, but an evolving thing that exists in the interaction between subject and object. The subject of action must constantly and concretely reach the consistency of subjectivity and objectivity, size up the situation, make the best of the situation, acquire an understanding of laws,and develop a big-picture view, so as to make discoveries, creations, progress and achievements. This is the dialectic of the relationship between the subject and object.

The people of the State of Qi have a saying: “Even if one is intelligent, it is better to follow the trend of the times; although one has a hoe, it is better to wait for the farming season.” (Mencius)