Effective medicine is bitter to the mouth but remedies disease. Loyal words offend the ear but benefit's one's conduct.

The above sentences were quoted from a protest letter written by Wang Lei who threatened to plunge to his death unless Liu Zhang turned away Xuande and not accept him in the Riverlands.

At present times, the phrase display the requirements of criticism to improve the lives of others. Feedbacks are needed in order to improve one's actions. If we turn a deaf ear to feedback which is constructive and well thought out and pursue our path/s in our own reckless and unproved ways, we will not succeed.