修身

The gentleman in war may have formations, but courage is the foundation. In mourning there may be rituals, but grief is the foundation. The scholar may have learning, but action is the foundation. Therefore if the foundation is not secure, do not strive to enrich the branches. If those near you are not close, do not strive to win over those far away. If your relatives do not rally to you, do not pursue external alliances. If you cannot finish the tasks you have begun, do not pursue many enterprises. If you are confused about the things before you, do not pursue wide learning. Therefore when the ancient kings governed the realm, they examined what was near to attract what was far. The gentleman examines what is near -- that is self-cultivation. Self-cultivation means that when one is criticized, one reflects upon oneself; thus resentments diminish and conduct improves.

The way of the gentleman: in poverty he displays integrity, in wealth he displays righteousness, in life he shows love, and in death he inspires grief. These four forms of conduct cannot be falsely assumed but must be reflected in one's own person. What is stored in the heart should express inexhaustible love; what is enacted by the body should express inexhaustible reverence; what issues from the mouth should express inexhaustible gentleness. Let these pervade the four limbs and suffuse the flesh and skin -- even when one's hair turns white and the temples grow bare, still not to abandon them: only the sage can achieve this!

Those whose will is not strong will not achieve wisdom; those whose words are not trustworthy will not act decisively. Those who possess wealth but cannot share it with others are not worthy of friendship; those who do not firmly uphold the Way, whose knowledge of things is not broad, and who cannot clearly distinguish right from wrong, are not worthy of companionship. When the root is not firm, the branches will certainly fail. Those who are proud but do not cultivate themselves will certainly become lazy thereafter. When the source is murky, the stream cannot be clear; when conduct is not trustworthy, one's reputation will certainly be consumed. Reputation does not arise by itself, and fame does not grow on its own. When merit is achieved and reputation follows, reputation cannot be falsely assumed but must be reflected in one's person. Those who are eloquent in speech but slow in action, however persuasive, will not be heeded. Those who exert great effort but boast of their achievements, however laborious, will not be recognized. The wise person's heart discerns clearly but does not speak profusely; he exerts great effort but does not boast of achievements -- thus his reputation spreads throughout the realm. In speech, do not strive for quantity but for wisdom; do not strive for eloquence but for penetration. When wisdom and penetration reside in oneself, yet one's feelings run contrary to this path -- that is the problem. Goodness that is not anchored in the heart will not endure; conduct that is not verified in one's person will not be established. Reputation cannot be achieved through shortcuts, nor fame established through cleverness. The gentleman carries his conduct on his person. To think only of profit and neglect fame entirely -- there has never been such a person who could serve as a worthy scholar in the realm.